Sajid Javid seeks to win over police with funding pledge

The home secretary has signalled a departure from the Conservatives’ past approach to the police, telling officers he would prioritise getting them more money to reflect the increased demands on them.

Sajid Javid told the Police Federation conference that he wanted to “reset” the relationship between the government and police. Under the previous home secretaries Theresa May and Amber Rudd, it was severely strained, as police budgets were cut and officers said their terms and conditions had worsened.

Hundreds of rank-and-file officers in Birmingham heard Javid say he accepted their central claim that they were under more strain. “I’m not arrogant enough to turn up here after three weeks in the job and tell you how to do yours. What I will say is that I am listening and I get it. I get that there is increased demand,” he said on Wednesday.

May and Rudd had maintained that crime was falling despite police budgets being reduced, but Javid struck a different tone, saying: “Yes, traditional crime is over a third lower than it was in 2010 – a credit to your hard work. But more crimes – like hate crimes and sexual offences – are being reported than ever before.

“There’s also been a recent increase in serious violent crimes – including homicides, knife and gun crime. I am absolutely determined to put an end to the appalling violence that is terminating young lives far too soon. The threat from terrorism has also escalated and evolved.

“And crime is increasingly taking place online. The internet has emboldened criminals to break the law in the most horrifying of ways.”

But what the hundreds of delegates wanted was a pledge of more money from the government. Javid hinted at this, saying: “We’re giving PCCs [police and crime commissioners] the flexibility to increase council tax contributions to policing.

“This has helped deliver a £460m increase in total police funding this year. We’re now investing over £1bn more in policing than we did three years ago, including money raised through council tax.

“But we need to think more about the long-term funding of the police. So, my pledge to you is this: I will prioritise police funding in the spending review next year.”

Javid ended his speech by saying he wanted a better relationship with the police, whose numbers have been cut by 20,000 since the Tories came to power in 2010.

“It’s often said that British policing is the envy of the world. Everyone in this room wants to keep it that way. Let’s reset the relationship between the government and the police. I will give you the tools, the powers and the backup that you need to get the job done,” he said.

“For those of you who stand on the frontline, be in no doubt that I will be standing with you.”

Javid said he was horrified by the violence faced by his brother, who is now a chief superintendent in the West Midlands.

His speech ended to warmer applause than past home secretaries have enjoyed. One delegate, John Apter, who chairs the Hampshire Police Federation, told Javid: “I found myself liking you a little bit.”

In his speech, the Police Federation chairman, Calum Macleod, said police warnings that cuts would lead to rising crime had been ignored by Javid’s predecessors.

Macleod, who is running for re-election, told him: “In recent years, government has turned its back on those who it expects to keep the public safe. Real-term salaries cut. Officer numbers cut. And yet, demand increases.”

Javid’s wooing of the police saw him declare his support for stop
and search, and for spit hoods, although he has next to no power over such policing methods, as they are operational matters for individual police chiefs.

Louise Haigh, the shadow policing minister, said: “He claims he wants police to have the resources they need, but offers nothing beyond platitudes and the same inadequate funding settlement.”

Officers who heard the speech welcomed its tone, but wanted to wait to see whether Javid delivered on extra money for policing.

Che Donald, a vice-chair of the Police Federation, said: “Once bitten, twice shy. A cautious and reserved reception for someone who seemed to be saying the right things, but delivering on them remains to be seen.”