New resources to fight crime

Significant new investment to continue the fight against crime has been announced by the Chancellor today. Targets to reduce robbery, vehicle crime and burglary will be delivered over the next three years. There will be an increased focus on those local communities most blighted by crime and new funding to tackle drug related crime. New investment will also be used to bring Criminal Justice System IT into the 21st century.

Home Office spending will be £2.9 billion higher in 2005-06 than in 2002-03. Overall spending on the Criminal Justice System (CJS) will increase by an annual average of 5 per cent after inflation. This includes substantial investment in IT systems, as part of a joint CJS IT budget to promote closer working across the CJS and streamline case management. There will be a tough new inspection regime for the CJS to improve performance.

Welcoming the new spending plans, David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, said:

"This settlement helps us to build on the foundations of our plans to improve the performance of the police and the rest of the Criminal Justice System. It will ensure that the tools are available to deliver the crime reduction we need, especially in the highest crime areas."

Increased spending on the police of around £1.5 billion by 2005-06 compared to 2002-3, alongside a package of reforms, will improve the performance of all police forces. A new target has been set so that the poorest performing forces significantly reduce the gap with the best. The Spending Review ensures that:

funds will be allocated to local police force Basic Command Units for work in consultation with other local agencies to tackle crime;
comparisons of police force performance will be published for 2004-05, with a new link between the performance of Basic Command Units and funding; and
officers will spend more time on front line duties.

Prisons' performance will be benchmarked. The responsibilities for setting standards, monitoring performance and contracting strategy will be made distinct from operational management. Re-offending will be reduced, by helping to ensure that prisoners are better equipped to go straight on release.

Extra funding will be available for a package of drug testing and treatment measures to tackle drug related crime.

The Home Office Public Service Agreement includes targets for reductions in crime and re-offending, improving the performance of the police, and reducing the number of unfounded asylum applications.

Notes for editors

1. The 2002 Spending Review provides the following increases:

£ million	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Home Office
Resource Budget	10,158	11,685	12,022	12,722
Capital Budget	715	808	948	1,053
Total Departmental Expenditure Limit¹	10,675	12,275	12,727	13,532
Local authority police SSA²	3,577	3,995	4,195	4,395
Near cash spending in HO DEL³	10,332	11,916	12,336	13,116

1 Full resource budgeting basis, net of depreciation. Includes Charity Commission. The 2002-3 DEL does not include full expected asylum spending.

2 Standard Spending Assessment: subject to spending decisions by local authorities.

3 Cash spending measured on an accruals basis, i.e. when spending is incurred.

£ million	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Criminal Justice system
Resource Budget	13,985	15,544	16,216	17,211
Capital Budget	893	1,035	1,231	1,344
Total criminal justice spending in England and Wales¹	14,703	16,385	17,229	18,336

1 Full resource budgeting basis, net of depreciation.

2. The Government conducted a comprehensive review of public services - the Comprehensive Spending Review - in 1998. The 2000 Spending Review built on this by setting targets and allocating resources for the three years to 2003-04. The 2002 Spending Review revises these plans for 2003-04 and outlines new plans for 2004-05 and 2005-06.

3. For further details please contact the Home Office Press Office on 020 7273 4545, or visit the Home Office website.

New resources to fight crime

Notes for editors

1 Full resource budgeting basis, net of depreciation.

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