§ 32. Dr. George TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to help improve the effectiveness of police forces serving rural communities. [130353]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeRural areas will benefit from the Crime Fighting Fund, part of which will be used to provide funding for 9,000 officers over and above the number forces in England and Wales have already planned to recruit in the period 2000–03.
In addition, £15 million was made available through the Budget for assistance specifically to police forces in rural areas this year. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston, (Mr. Miller), on 20 July 2000, Official Report columns 320–21W.