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. (Image: PA)Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds warned Ms Patel “the letter does not make clear whether or when this £84million will be replaced by the Home Office, to maintain the budget for police officer recruitment”. “In response to a request from the National Police Chiefs Council, we have enabled some flexibility in funding in light of the current pandemic. “We have absolutely no plans to slow down or scale back our Police Uplift Programme.

Source: Daily Mirror May 12, 2020 18:59 UTC