FOI Request
How many times did the PCC/Mayor write directly to the former Prime Minister Rt Hon Theresa May MP during her time in office both as prime minister and Home Secretary for the following reasons:
- A: Raising concerns that budget cuts were having a detrimental effect on policing
- B: Requested more money? How much was requested how much was given (if any)
- C: Raised concerns that budget cuts were putting officers at risk
FOI Response
I can confirm that the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland does hold this information.
The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has written four letters to Theresa May MP: three times in her role as Home Secretary and once when she was in the office of Prime Minister.
I will now break these letters down into the specific reasons set out in your request:
A: Raising concerns that budget cuts were having a detrimental effect on policing
July 2013 – The PCC wrote to Mrs May asking for the government to rethink the current firearms licencing charges:
Firearms Licensing Letter to Home Secretary (application, 313kB)
November 2013 – The PCC wrote to Mrs May expressing his concern at the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review and the impact on policing:
Letter to Home Secretary CSR (application, 130kB)
December 2013 – The PCC wrote to Mrs May to raise concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the National Police ICT Services charges:
Letter to Home Secretary – National Police ICT Services (application, 122kB)
September 2017 – The PCC wrote to the Prime Minister calling for the government to fund increases to police pay:
Letter to Prime Minister Police Pay (application, 190kB)
B: Requested more money? How much was requested how much was given (if any)
The Police and Crime Commissioner has not made any specific requests for money, but has consistently asked the government to re-evaluate their current funding formula for policing, to give Cleveland Police a fairer deal. He has regularly written to political leaders asking them to reconsider funding decisions to prevent further cuts to the police force and to help the force replace the 500 police officers and 50 PCSOs they have lost since 2010.
C: Raised concerns that budget cuts were putting officers at risk
The PCC has not made this specific point in his letters, although he is very aware of the risks police officers face due to stretched resources and limited numbers.
Please note: if you wish to read any of the letters the PCC has sent to the government – including to then-Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Sajid Javid – they are all published on his website at the link below:
Any responses received can also be found on this page.
Date responded: 30 August 2019