There have been repeated false claims in the media today that the £40m funding underpinning the new Serious Violence Strategy will be “top-sliced”from policing budgets.
The Home Secretary announced in her speech yesterday that the strategy, which marks a major shift in the approach to recent rises in knife and gun crime, is being supported by £40 million of Home Office funding. It is not being funded from the central Government core police grant that is ring-fenced nor is it being taken away or reallocated from policing projects.
We have already provided a strong and comprehensive settlement that will increase police funding by £460m for 2018/2019, including £280m drawn from increased precept contributions. More information about that funding is available in our fact sheet.