HAMPSHIRE Constabulary is set to receive a funding boost in a bid to tackle serious violence throughout the county.

The force will be allocated £1.26 million form the latest set of grants issued by home secretary Sajid Javid.

In total Mr Javid will distribute £12.4 million to 18 different police forces across the country.

The money will be put towards additional officer deployments, improved intelligence, and short-term operational actions such as targeting habitual knife carriers.

The Home Secretary last week chaired his latest Chief Constable roundtable to discuss how forces are using additional government funding to tackle serious violence.

Mr Javid said: “I’ve been doing everything in my power to ensure we have the strongest possible response to tackle violent crime - and law enforcement plays a key role in this. This money means forces can take urgent action, including more officers on duty in the worst affected areas.

“It takes a collective effort to tackle violent crime and I’ll continue to work closely with police and partners to end this senseless bloodshed.”