Spring Statement an insult to police officers and knife crime victims

Responding to the Chancellor's announcement on police funding in his Spring Statement, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Ed Davey said:

"Faced with the current epidemic of knife crime claiming the lives of so many young people, the Government's response today is shockingly inadequate.

"The Conservatives have cut £1 billion from police budgets since 2015, and now they offer just £80 million back. They have taken 5,000 police officers and 2,600 community support officers off the streets, and now they offer to fund some extra overtime.

"This is an insult to our hard-working police and an insult to the victims of knife crime and their families.

"The Liberal Democrats demand better. The Government must give local police forces the funding they need to recruit more officers and restore the community policing that prevents crime and keeps us safe.

"The Government must also invest in a proper public health approach that brings together youth services, community groups, schools and the NHS to tackle the shocking rise in knife crime."