Priti Patel says cutting crime "non-negotiable" as funding announced for Yorkshire police

Priti Patel has said reducing crime, particularly serious violent crimes, is "non-negotiable" while speaking at a joint summit for the National Police Chiefs' Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners today (Wednesday).

It comes as Yorkshire's two biggest police forces are to receive funding to increase patrols and tackle serious violent crime.

West and South Yorkshire Police forces were named among the 18 forces worst-affected by violence, which will each receive a chunk from a £41.5m cash injection.

The Home Office has promised funding for 20,000 more police officers over the next three years, as well as measures to step up action against county lines drugs crime which is prevalent across Yorkshire.

Addressing the summit in London, Ms Patel said: "These outcomes will be non-negotiable and I will be unapologetic about holding you to account.

"Together we can lengthen the long arm of the law to ensure no criminals can escape - and, importantly, the public can have the trust in policing that you all deserve."

Ms Patel's speech came as ministers continue to dismiss claims of bullying in the Home Office after she allegedly "belittled" colleagues.

She added that crime "will not go away overnight" and that police deserve "full respect" for the "incredible job" they do.

"I will also be unafraid to challenge you to do more," she said.

"[The public] deserve the freedom to live their lives without fear of violent criminals, terrorists and drug dealers.

"That's why I've made it my priority to restore public confidence in our criminal justice system."

Speaking at the same event, the chief inspector of constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor said justice for victims of crime was being denied almost "to the point of extinction".

"Justice delayed is justice denied," he told the summit.

Sir Thomas added there was a "mismatch" between what the public expect of the police, and the reality of the funding they receive.

Meanwhile, the Home Secretary has also suggested she wants to effect stronger penalties for people who assault officers while on duty, and has launched a Police Covenant to recognise their rights to safety.

The Home Secretary said she felt urged to crack down on assaults on police following the death of Pc Andrew Harper last year.

Pc Harper was killed in Berkshire in August while attending reports of a burglary. One man has admitted manslaughter while a 17-year-old has denied the charge and awaits trial.

Ms Patel said: "What happened to Pc Harper opened the gateway for me to learn much more about police, their health and well-being, help and support and what there is and what there isn't.

"This covenant is about what there is not and correcting the wrong in terms of the lack of support that exists for our officers."

New laws were introduced in November 2018 which imposed tougher sentencing guidelines for those guilty of assaults on emergency service workers, following the Police Federation's Protect The Protectors campaign.

But figures released last week revealed just 13 per cent of criminals who attack emergency workers receive prison sentences, with most being let off with a fine.

Peter Musgrave, Chair of Humberside Police Federation, said it was "disgraceful" that courts were not handing out tougher sentences to "mindless thugs" who attack emergency service workers.

Following the release of the figures, Mr Musgrave said: "These new figures, which show offenders are being jailed for an average of just 2.6 months, reveal a shocking inability by the courts to tackle the growing number of attacks on officers.

“We are seeing officers suffering not just physical injuries as a result of these assaults but also mental and emotional trauma that can affect them and their families.

“The CPS and the courts need to do more to ensure that people are properly punished for their despicable attacks on people who are simply doing their job and serving the public.”