'Hopelessly outdated' police funding formula failing rural forces, PAC finds

It said: “The Home Office is still using the hopelessly out-dated police funding formula, which the PAC recommended be reformed over 10 years ago.

“With demographic changes and regional variations in funding since that time, financial pressures on forces have increased.”

It cited rural forces, such as Bedfordshire and Warwickshire Police, which saw their funding per capita fall by almost 12 per cent since 2015.

“The report raises further concerns that funding allocations do not reflect the needs of rural forces.”

The PAC’s findings were published today, less than 48 hours after the Government revealed its plans for policing reform in a white paper.

This included a review to cut down the number of forces, and a time limit on responding to serious crimes in city and countryside areas.

However, PAC chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has written to Home Office permanent secretary Dame Antonia Romeo calling for answers to the findings, including on the rural question.

He told The Yorkshire Post: “The funding formula for police has got more and more outdated due to demographics and other factors.

“People are feeling that North Yorkshire is disadvantaged in the current formula, and that is in line with our report.”

It comes with the cost of rural crime in Yorkshire and the Humber estimated to be around £4.4m, according to NFU Mutual.

In North Yorkshire Police, only 1 per cent of its officers are part of its dedicated Rural Task Force.

National Farmers’ Union President Tom Bradshaw said: “Organised crime is a major threat to rural communities, with more than 22 gangs responsible for widespread thefts of machinery, vehicles, and GPS equipment, according to the National Rural Crime Network.

“Relentless fly-tipping and the growing menace of hare coursing are also causing significant financial loss and deep emotional distress to farming families and their businesses and impacting food production across the country.

“Criminal gangs frequently operate across multiple police force areas to evade capture, and they target rural areas where policing is thinly stretched.

“As part of these reforms, announced by government, the funding must reflect rural needs, including remoteness, vulnerability, and seasonal population pressures.”

There has been speculation that a pan-Yorkshire force could be created, with the number of forces potentially shrinking as low as 12 from the current 43 in England and Wales.

One Labour source told this paper that the super force “would be too big” and the different “areas’ challenges are unique and nuanced”.

Deputy Mayor for Policing Jo Coles said: “For us in York and North Yorkshire, but especially for our rural communities, its vital changes benefit our region.

“North Yorkshire Police already delivers effective policing across an area five times the size that of the Metropolitan Police, albeit with both less crime and significantly less police officers.

“Rural areas do not benefit from the same economies of scale as urban areas and it’s vital reforms recognise this in order to deliver fair and effective policing for all.”

Andrew Gillett, chief legal adviser at the Country Land and Business Association, said: “We have long called for police forces to be adequately resourced to tackle rural crime, especially since rural crime places a heavy burden on already-isolated communities up and down the country.”

“Improving cost-efficiency and consistency across police forces are welcome, particularly where reforms help to strengthen intelligence-led policing and allow for better resourcing of the technology needed to tackle organised, cross border rural crime.

“These changes could make a real difference for farmers who are too often targeted by highly mobile criminal groups.

“The process of forming larger and more centralised forces risks running into significant expense and complexity.

“It is also crucial that Local Policing Areas remain accessible, visible and responsive to the rural communities they serve.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “This week the Home Secretary announced a comprehensive package of policing reforms which aim to create a police service that is more rooted in local communities and focused on their needs, including a review of the existing police funding formula.

“This will add to the action we have taken to strengthen local and rural forces, including placing 3,000 more officers in neighbourhood roles by March this year and working with police leaders to update the Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy.”