Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will soon be able to bid from a £20m Home Office pot designed to help them come up with new ideas.

The Government had planned to set up a Police Innovation Fund, worth £50m annually, from 2014/15 to help initiate reforms with the potential to improve policing and drive operational efficiencies.

However, ministers have now announced £20m will soon be made available for the 41 PCCs across England and Wales to bid for.

Policing minister, Damian Green told a gathering of PCCs held last week to mark the
anniversary of their first year in office that ‘innovation shouldn't have to wait' given the number of commissioners wanting to press ahead with transformation within their forces.

‘This fund will incentivise collaboration, support improved digital working and enable PCCs to invest in a range of other innovative delivery approaches
that have the potential to improve policing and deliver further efficiency,' Mr Green said.