Rural policing needs cannot continue to be overlooked by the Government
Discussions around policing tend to focus on urban areas with rural concerns too often overlooked. That clearly needs to change with people living in the countryside increasingly feeling let down when it comes to law and order.
It is evident that politicians have been out-of-touch on the policing needs of rural communities. The Public Accounts Committee report saying that a “hopelessly outdated” Home Office police funding formula has failed to provide rural forces with the support they need confirms this.
Demographic changes and regional variations over the last 10 years have led to rural constabularies losing out.
The fact that this comes just a couple of days after the Government announced its plans for policing reform in a white paper should focus minds in Westminster on the issue of rural crime.
The plans include a review to cut down the number of forces, and a time limit on responding to serious crimes in city and countryside areas. Fears that certain parts of the country could be left neglected by a reduction in the number of forces need to be addressed before the Government ties itself up in knots.
The concerns of rural areas are completely warranted. The countryside faces its own unique challenges when it comes to crime. The remoteness of these areas can often leave policing to thinly spread.
The Government must not treat the countryside as if it's out of sight and out of mind. Rural parts of Britain are certainly not being spared the scourge of crime. In fact organised crime is a major threat to our rural communities. The theft of farm machinery, vehicles, and fly-tipping heap misery on farmers - taking them away from the important task of putting food on the nation’s table. The reforms need to mark a turning point in tackling rural crime.