POLICE funding for Hampshire could rise by £26.1 million as part of the Government’s proposed settlement for 2020/21.

The spend will see an overall increase of £1.1 billion across the policing system for the year – the biggest boost in funding to forces since 2010.

However, this follows what many have described as a period of underfunding.

Nationally, £700m will be spent recruiting 6,000 additional officers by the end of March 2021.

The Government said this represents an almost ten per cent rise on the core grant provided to forces last year.

This is part of the Government’s commitment to recruit 20,000 “additional” officers over the next three years.

Again, the recruitment drive has been described as more of a restoration of police numbers, which have fallen by about 20,000 in the last decade.

Around a third of funding for policing comes from a share of council tax, known as the police precept.

Police and Crime Commissioners in England will have the flexibility to boost local funding by increasing the precept by up to £10 for a typical Band D property. This funding increase assumes full use of this flexibility.

East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds said: “I know what a high priority policing is for East Hants residents. 

“Our local police do an outstanding job keeping us safe, and this extra funding is very good news. 

“The Hampshire Constabulary and the commissioner have really prioritised front-line policing and precept funding from 2019/20 had already enabled recruitment of more officers. 

“Now it will be possible to boost recruitment and training further.”