The police forces are complaining because they have not been allocated sufficient funds in the latest Budget. Let me say immediately that it is not true that there are no funds allocated for this purpose, but certainly the allocation that there is, is inadequate, a fact that we should be aware of because, after all, we all make use of public areas at some or other time.
This Budget makes more funds available for the modernisation of vehicles and for staffing purposes than what was the case last year, where 7 billion 334 million was allocated for this purpose, while this year’s budget, instead, allocates 7 billion 550 million. This proves that there has been an increase of 200 million, and not a reduction, as is being claimed. The problem remains that this is not enough.
What are the three main areas requiring our effort, in terms of what the forces of law and order have asked for so that they can work better? They ask that the funds available to the police stations be increased so that they may purchase more fuel for their vehicles, more paper on which to write, and for the purchase of everyday items that the need.
They ask to be allowed to recruit more staff. There are 6000 vacant posts that must be filled.
Finally, they ask that their training facilities be increased and expanded. There were, at one time, 12 such facilities, which have been reduced to only 3. From the point of efficiency, this would appear to have been a good idea, on condition that these 3 facilities produce the same level of results as the original 12 did.
Our forces of law and order are not asking for too much and, with certain appropriate cuts and rationalisations, we can grant these requests: this is our aim.