Dear resident
I am writing to ask that you take part in a government consultation to highlight the imbalance in funding for rural police forces. Alongside the National Rural Crime Network, we are urging the government to reconsider how police forces are funded, and specifically to take account of the higher costs of policing rural areas.
Dorset has been hit with central government budget cuts of £14.8m since 2010, which is over 20% of the total money handed down from government. When taking inflation into account the 20% cut becomes a 30% cuts in real terms. This has impacted the number of officers and staff with 16% fewer officers policing Dorset since 2010 and 9% fewer staff supporting operational teams.
Officers in Dorset patrol 1,024 square miles with only 6.3% of the county being classified as ‘urban’. Rural crime is very different to criminal activities that take place in our major towns and it is vital this is recognised nationally. I would ask all resident to take part in the consultation and I will continue to lobby government to ensure fair funding for Dorset.
To download a pre written letter to the policing minister or to sign the petition, please visit www.dorset.pcc.police.uk/RPM
Thanks for your support.
Martyn Underhill
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner