§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on rural policing in(a) North Yorkshire and (b) New Earswick. [134843]
§ Ms BlearsWe need effective policing arrangements in all areas, urban and rural. The annual £30 million Rural Policing Fund has been specifically provided to increase the visibility and accessibility of police in rural areas. North Yorkshire Police receive over £2 million or 6.7 per cent. of the fund. I understand that this has been used to fund 60 additional officers as well as additional scenes of crime staff and support staff. North Yorkshire now has 37 Community Support Officers who patrol across the force area. They help to tackle low-level crime, public disorder and to provide public reassurance in both urban and rural communities.
The policing of New Earswick is a matter for the Chief Constable. The force have drawn valuable lessons from a recent report evaluating a community policing initiative in New Earswick (Great Expectations: Contracted community policing in New Earswick).