§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on rural policing in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02. [61129]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 13 June 2002]: The deployment of resources within a police force area is a matter for the Chief Officer who will assess local needs in line with operational priorities and the force policing plan, and allocate available resources accordingly. Records of the amount of spending on rural policing are not held centrally.
The funding formula for Police grant in England and Wales allocates 0.5 per cent (around £38 million) of total funding in relation to sparsity of population. In addition, in June 2000 we introduced the Rural Policing Fund that allocates additional resources to police forces to enhance policing in rural areas. The fund was £15 million for 2000–01 and £30 million for 2001–02 and 2002/03.
Policing in Scotland is a devolved issue and is a matter for the Scottish Executive.
§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is taking to maintain a police presence in rural and remote areas of England and Wales. [62168]
§ Mr Denham[holding answer 17 June 2002]: The deployment of resources, including police officers, within a police force area is a matter for the Chief Officer 618W who will assess local needs in line with operational priorities and the force policing plan, and allocate available resources accordingly.
The funding formula for Police grant in England and Wales allocates 0.5 per cent (around £38 million) of total funding in relation to sparsity of population. In addition, in June 2000 we introduced the Rural Policing Fund that allocates additional resources to police forces to enhance policing in rural areas. The fund was £15 million for 2000–01 and £30 million for 2001–02 and 2002–03. The rural policing fund benefits 31 police forces. Devon and Cornwall constabulary receive the highest allocation from the fund, just over £3 million.