Alan Mak MP with Havant’s Chief Inspector Patrick Holdaway.
Havant MP Alan Mak has lobbied the Home Office for more police funding for Havant and Waterlooville.
Mak said Hampshire and Havant have historically received lower levels of police funding than other parts of the country due to the Home Office formula used to calculate how much each area of England receives. Mak has now responded to a Home Office consultation on the police funding formula, and asked for Hampshire to receive its fair share.
Mak is strongly in favour of the new formula which bases funding distributions on general population numbers. Mak says crime in Havant is falling, but offences such as drug-taking and domestic violence still need to be tackled.
Mak is backing the News’ campaign to ban legal highs, having already raised the issue in Parliament, citing the Gypsy Kings shop in Market Parade as one where he would like to see the sale of legal highs ended. The Government is currently passing legislation to ban the substances.
The new Havant MP has met the area’s police commander, Chief Inspector Patrick Holdaway to discuss local crime and policing issues. Mak has pledged his support for local police, and hopes to join them on a patrol around the constituency in the coming months.
Commenting, MP for Havant Alan Mak said
“Across Havant crime is low, but our residents and police deserve more funding so we get our fair share from central government. We especially need to bear down on crimes like domestic violence, drug dealing and the sale of legal highs. As Havant’s local MP, I am lobbying the Home Office for more funding and a new funding formula, working alongside with other Hampshire MPs.”