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HUGE CASH BOOST TO BUILD A MODERN CRIME FIGHTING MACHINE
070/2000
27 March 2000 0171 273 4610
HUGE CASH BOOST TO BUILD A MODERN CRIME FIGHTING MACHINE
A total of £285 million, announced in last week's Budget, will be spent on
improving and modernising Britain's crime fighting capabilities, recruiting
police officers more quickly and releasing more officers for frontline
operational duties, the Home Secretary revealed today.
The new funding will be invested in the latest information technology
systems, create more opportunities for local partnerships to tackle crime
and disorder, modernise the criminal justice system and provide a
significant boost to police recruitment in England and Wales.
Out of the Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) allocation of £185 million,
£157 million will be allocated to Home Office-led crime busting
initiatives, including:
· £40 million for a National Strategy for Police Information Systems (NSPIS);
· £25 million for the establishment of a Government Technical Assistance
Centre (GTAC);
· £4.5 million for the development of a standard approach to the electronic
'chipping' of goods;
· £950,000 for a pilot of Project LION; and
· £1.48 million on IT interfaces.
£14 million will be allocated for the development of the DNA Database
already announced. The rest represents new money.
An additional £91 million fund has been set aside to modernise the police
service in England and Wales - to be invested in enhanced recruitment for
forces over the coming year and to give financial support to a strong
partnership approach to crime reduction.
Welcoming the new funding, Home Secretary Jack Straw said:
"Modernising the entire criminal justice system is a large and continuing
enterprise.
"However, this new funding will make a significant impact. It will help
develop modern solutions to the crime problems of the 21st Century - the
benefits of which will be felt by everyone.
"For example, much of the criminal justice system still lacks a modern and
integrated IT system. The Capital Modernisation Fund will help us put that
right. Making information available electronically to all the criminal
justice agencies will save time and money. It will help bring about faster
case preparation, fewer court delays, a speedier administration of justice
and a better service to victims and witnesses as well as reducing the
weight of bureaucracy on the police, releasing more of their time for
frontline operational duties."
Looking at the likely impact of the new funds for police modernisation, the
Home Secretary added:
"The Police Service will also reap significant benefits from the new £91
million funds.
"Around £11 million of the new money will enable the existing plans for
5,000 additional recruits to be delivered over two years rather than three.
Instead of 1,000 additional recruits in the coming year, there should be at
least 2,000.
"A further significant portion of this fund will be used to assist forces
who are having difficulties with recruitment and retention, in particular
the Metropolitan Police, which will include the development of a national
police recruiting campaign.
"Partnership also features strongly in our plans for modernisation with
part of this funding going towards supporting the valuable work of local
crime and disorder partnerships.
He concluded:
"This country's police service and criminal justice system are known
throughout the world for their integrity and success in fighting crime.
However as technology develops, so do the criminals. This new funding will
go a long way to ensuring that our crime fighting capabilities and results
continue to be of the highest order.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Smith said:
"The money awarded from the Capital Modernisation Fund will give our
criminal justice agencies the modern tools that are vital if they are to
deliver a efficient and effective service for the 21st century."
Notes for Editors:
1. Budget 2000 made an extra £285 million available for the fight against
crime. This includes £185 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund, of
which the Home Office allocation is £157 million. It also includes an
additional £100 million for modernising the police service, of which around
£91 million is for England and Wales.
2. The breakdown of the CMF £157 million is as follows:
Scheme Amount
Government Technical Assistance Centre £25m
Video Recording Police Interviews £21m
DNA Database £14m
Restructuring the Prison Estate £40m
NSPIS £40m
Video Links - Modernising the Court Process £5.3m
Post-Release support hostel for prisoners after drug treatment £5m
Electronic 'chipping' of goods £4.5m
Project LION £0.95m
IT interfaces £1.48m
Total £157m
3. £34 million for the DNA Database was announced by the Prime Minister in
September 1999. The CMF allocation will be part of that total sum.
4. The Director General of the Prison Service will announce details of the
Restructuring of the Prison Estate in due course.
5. The breakdown of the £91 million will be determined in discussion with
the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Association of Police
Authorities (APA), the Local Government Association (LGA) and the police
staff associations.
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Cheers,
Bob.
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