§ Angela WatkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give funding for additional police officers in Havering to meet the demands of its late night entertainment centre. [29911]
§ Mr. John DenhamWe made clear in the White Paper "Policing a New Century: A Blueprint for Reform" that we are concerned about the costs incurred in policing entertainment venues, particularly pubs and clubs. We restated the Government's position on charging in the Government's reply to the Home Affairs Select Committee's report into the Police Reform Bill. We are keen to explore how we might encourage and develop arrangements under which entertainment venues, including pubs, clubs and bars, make a contribution to the policing and public order costs generated by their activities. Complex issues need to be resolved in order to find a way forward.
Excluding the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF), police grant for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for 2002–03 is £1.676 billion.
Under the CFF recruitment initiative, the MPS has already been allocated an additional 2,044 recruits over and above the forces' previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003. The MPS/MPA (Metropolitan Police Authority) received £12 million from the CFF in 2000–01, £43.7 million was paid in 2001–02 and, on present forecasts of recruitment, is expected to qualify for full payment of £65.9 million in 2002–03.
The allocation of available resources to the London Boroughs is a matter for the Commissioner and the Metropolitan Police Authority.