Nadine Challenges Home Secretary On £4.3 Million Under Funding Of Beds Police
Posted by Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid Bedfordshire, at 15:40, Thu 8 March 2007:
Last week I wrote to the Home Secretary, John Reid MP, expressing my concerns about the £4.3 Million under funding of Bedfordshire Police. In correspondence I received from the Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police – Mrs Gillian Parker – Bedfordshire should receive £70.648 Million according to the national funding formula, but the actual figure received is down by £4.3 Million.
I have written to the Home Secretary seeking answers as to why Bedfordshire does not get the level of funding, the government says we are entitled to. The £4.3 Million shortfall in central government grant would provide the equivalent of an extra 100 full time Police Officers on the streets of Bedfordshire. I am concerned that the process used by the government to withdraw funding, fails to take into consideration the additional pressures that are placed on Bedfordshire Police.
I don't believe the diverse policing needs of Bedfordshire have been adequately considered by the government. For example, in parts of Luton, policing commitments share some of the characteristics of an inner city. Bedford town centre is also an area of high policing needs too. The threat of international terrorism places additional burdens in terms of policing Luton Airport. I am annoyed that unlike other major airports in the country, Bedfordshire does Police does not receive the extra funds it needs to undertake this task.
As a consequence of the government’s under funding of Bedfordshire Police, our rural areas see far less policing than they are entitled to. I am calling on the Home Secretary to explain to residents in Bedfordshire why he feels our policing needs are not matched by the level of funding the Home Office says we are entitled to.
If you have any thoughts, views or concerns on this, or any other issues then please get in contact with me in the usual way.
Write to me at: Nadine Dorries MP House of Commons London SW1A 0AA
Telephone me on: 020 7219 4239
Fax me on: 020 7219 6428
Email me at: dorriesn@parliament.uk
Visit my website at: www.dorries.org.uk
Nadine
Nadine Dorries MP Member of Parliament for Mid-Bedfordshire
Comments
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Posted by Nadine Dorries, 10:20, Sat 10 March 2007: (Is this post abusive?) #
Hello Nadine Well done for bringing this problem to public notice. However, I think the problem is far more deep seated. Reduction in public funding for all services in general seems to mainly affect rural Tory areas enabling more money to be spent boosting traditional Labour areas. What else would you expect from a government whose main concern is staying in power and punishing the non-believers rather the well-being of the whole country.