Increase in police funding 'not silver bullet'

The Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) says an increase in funding for the county's force "isn't a silver bullet".

PCC Marc Jones said he welcomed the extra money, but it "doesn't give us everything that we wanted and needed".

The government has provided an extra £16m this financial year, with an extra £12m the following year.

Jones told a meeting of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel the force was facing a "dire" situation and that it would take time to turn around.

Jones said: "A few months ago, we were planning to reduce the already lowest amount of police officers per head of population in the country by a further 200 and an additional 200 police staff. We're now in the position of not doing that and actually recruiting."

The PCC explained that the money was enough to recruit 148 police officers, 20 police community support officers, as well as additional police staff.

Jones said despite the additional funding it was "unrealistic" to expect the force to turn round "in just three to six months".

"I'm still in the position of trying to explain that we can't turn around and instantly deliver results when we were literally at the point of dismantling the entire organisation," he said.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the PCC said he thought it would "still be a very tough year" and the chief constable and other officers were "working incredibly hard to deliver a new strategic plan".

"I feel confident that everything is moving in the right direction, but I do not underestimate the size and scale of the challenge," he added.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.

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