(The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Crime,
Safeguarding and Vulnerability): On 6 June 2018
this Parliament debated a motion about rural crime and public
services. Many of the crimes mentioned during the debate, such as
domestic violence and modern slavery, know no boundaries and can
be found in urban and rural areas alike. However, the Government
recognises that certain crimes, such as hare coursing and
livestock offences, can be an additional pressure in rural areas.
We therefore welcome the rural affairs strategy published by the
National Police Chiefs’ Council which, developed following a
period of consultation with rural stakeholders, sets out
operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of
tackling crimes that particularly affect rural areas. It is very
much intended that the strategy will support safer rural
communities and a better rural focus in policing.
Members on all sides of the House emphasised the need to ensure
that rural communities are not disadvantaged in the delivery or
quality of public services to tackle crime. The Government is
committed to providing all police forces in England and Wales
with the resources they need to do their crucial work. As the
Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear at the Budget, we
recognise the pressures on the police from the changing nature of
crime. The Home Secretary is reviewing police spending power and
further options for reform ahead of the provisional police
funding
settlement in December.
In 2017, the Minister for Policing and the Fire Service spoke to
every police force in England & Wales about the demands they
faced, including many frontline officers. Alongside that, the
Home Office undertook a robust assessment of demands and
pressures on the police which found that, since 2015, there had
been substantial changes in the demands on the police, with the
make-up of recorded crime shifting towards more complex and
resource intensive crimes, such as sexual offences and modern
slavery. Increases in the reporting of high harm ‘hidden’ crimes
have affected both urban and rural forces across England &
Wales.
This work led directly to a comprehensive funding settlement that
is increasing total investment in the police by over £460 million
in 2018/19. This includes £50 million for Counter-Terrorism, £130
million for national priorities and £280 million in force funding
from increases in Council Tax precept income. The pressures on
territorial policing were spread across England & Wales, so
it was right to enable every police force, rural and urban alike,
to protect their funding in real terms in 2018/19, including
precept income.
Our work on demand is continuing. We are working closely with the
policing sector in order to build the evidence base for the next
Spending Review, to ensure the police continue to receive the
resources they need. The existing Police Allocation Formula
includes population sparsity as a factor. The Government will
consider the issue of the police funding formula in the context
of the next Spending Review.
