Home Secretary Priti Patel was urged to guarantee tens of millions of pounds for police recruitment today amid fears cash has been diverted to help the fight against coronavirus.
The Conservative minister faced calls to replace £84million to ease pressures on forces in the Covid-19 battle – cash which had been earmarked to boost officer numbers.
A letter from Policing Minister Kit Malthouse sent to Chief Constable David Thompson – the National Police Chiefs Council's finance coordination committee chairman - suggested money would be stripped out of the recruitment pot.
It indicated a ring-fence for half the £168million planned for recruiting extra constables will be removed and “repurposed” to allow it to be spent on pressures linked to