ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IN CHANTRY
Today I asked a question to Jacob Rees-Mogg the Leader of the House of Commons about tackling anti-social behaviour in Chantry.
I told him how over the last few weeks I’ve been knocking on quite a few doors in the Chantry area of Ipswich and that interestingly he had quite a few admirers there. One of the keys issues I have taken away are concerns about antisocial behaviour and potential drug taking and dealing in the area, in particular in Stonelodge Park.
We know that increased police presence and regular patrols are part of deterring this kind of illicit activity and so I welcomed the extra 51 police officers we now have in the local area.
I asked him if the Government would find time for a debate about the national police funding formula which both I and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, believe isn’t fair on Suffolk.
He told me that there was also a Chantry in Somerset where he is an MP and was delighted to hear that he had a following here. He informed me that the Police funding formula remains the most reliable formula we have to distribute core grant funding to the Police and Crime Commissioners. And he also explained that the funding settlement will be £15.8 billion in 2021/22 which is up by £600m on the previous year.
He recognised that it is obviously then a question of how this money is spent in getting more police on the beat and said he was happy to hear there are 51 more police for our town.
I have raised the issue of the police funding formula before and will continue to do so. The Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, has also led on this issue to get a fairer deal for Suffolk. Previously I have had commitments from the Government that this would be looked at so I will continue to stay on the case.
I agree with him that it is key that the presence of a police officer is a sure way of reducing crime and antisocial behaviour.
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