THAMES Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, has defended allegations of cuts made to Reading Borough Council’s community safety funding.
Labour councillors in Reading accuse Mr Barber of reducing Reading’s fund by more than 52% and not delivering the full budget of £3 million across the Thames Valley Police Area, with only £2.58 million to be spent in 2022/23
The allegations come following the council’s policy committee meeting on Monday, January 17, which Mr Barber attended.
Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, lead councillor for neighbourhoods and communities, said: “This PCC is out of touch with what Reading needs to be safe and to thrive.”
She continued: “While our community is grieving victims of knife attacks, he has cut £250,000 from the budget that seeks to tackle youth offending, anti-social behaviour and drug and alcohol-based criminality.
“His priorities are those of sleepy Tory shires, not our lively, diverse, and aspirational town. Our residents and over-stretched, hard-working local policing team need him to restore our Community Safety funding and give Reading’s concerns the focus we deserve.”
Cllr Graeme Hoskin, lead councillor for health, wellbeing and sport, also called on the commissioner to “do the right thing and cancel cuts to vital services”.
Mr Barber rejected the allegations and believes the funding awarded to Reading is fair and represents equal distribution across the Thames Valley region.
Mr Barber said: “My office is committed to working in partnership with both local communities and councils to tackle issues of neighbourhood crime and anti-social behaviour.”
He continued: “The funding awarded to Reading, through the Community Safety Partnership, is based on a fair funding formula that ensures every part of the Thames Valley is funded equally based on population, crime figures and anti-social behaviour.
“This funding is in addition to the work commissioned and carried out directly by my office, including more than £400,000 for the Safer Streets project to tackle burglary, vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour.”
Mr Barber also explained the pledge to a three-year funding settlement for local councils demonstrates a long-term commitment to supporting local projects to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
