Plans to recruit extra police officers and increase school funding receives high praise from South Suffolk MP

Plans to recruit additional police officers in the county has received high praise from the MP for South Suffolk.

A total of 54 new officers will be recruited over a 12-month period, a move which follows a pledge from Prime Minister Boris Johnson to recruit 20,000 more police officers across the country.

As part of a wider cash injection in public services, schools across South Suffolk are expected to receive a 6.6 per cent rise in funding.

Welcoming the initiative, James Cartlidge said: “Having made difficult choices to restore the broken public finances we inherited to good health, we are now in a position to increase spending.

“This is great news for South Suffolk. Our schools have suffered historically from an unfair funding formula, which I have campaigned with my colleagues to change.

“The result is that local schools will now see a significant uplift.”

Reflecting on plans to strengthen policing in the county, Mr Cartlidge championed the move.

“Likewise, at a time when county lines crime has put real pressure on our police force, it’s very positive to see that Suffolk will get its share of new officers following a broader increase in police funding,” he said.

“This shows our government’s commitment to keeping communities safe and strengthening educational opportunity.”