Police chief attacks rural funding

Describing the government's funding policy as "very harsh", Mr Grange said services such as child protection measures may have to be cut as he is faced with a £5m budget shortfall.

He has accused ministers of moving funding from rural forces to pay for urban officers in large northern England cities.

" There is a deliberate government policy of moving funding from rural forces to pay for policing large cities in the north of England "
Terence Grange

Now the chief constables of the four Welsh forces are calling for police funding to be devolved to the National Assembly for Wales.

On Wednesday, the government announced a 6.2% increase in funding for forces across England and Wales.

He said the only alternative to make up the £5m shortfall would be a 28% rise in the police precept element of the council tax.

"The brutal truth is it is either we cut our resources and close the small stations we've begun to open and don't have decent child protection services, or we do.

"If we're going to have them then the local council tax payer is going to have to pay," he said.

'Harsh'

"There is a deliberate government policy of moving funding from rural forces to pay for policing large cities in the north of England.

"The effect on Welsh forces has not been considered and for the rural forces of Wales it has been very harsh."

"You are talking about in strict police officer terms, although I wouldn't do it this way, a gap of some 200 police officers."

The Home Office said all rural forces were receiving enough funding.

But the chief constable said Home Office press releases should be entered for the Booker Prize for fiction.

Rises

Politicians from other parts of Wales echoed Mr Grange's fears of a rise in council tax.

Meirionnydd Nant Conwy MP Elfyn Llwyd told fellow MPs Band D council tax payers in the North Wales Police region could see an increase of 31%.

And Caerphilly MP Wayne David said a 26% rise in council tax payments was an option in the Gwent Police force area.

An additional burden for Gwent was the cost of providing security for Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy, whose constituency of Torfaen fell in its area, he told the House of Commons.

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, Mr Llwyd said additional funding for forces covering big cities seemed to come "at a cost to other areas".

"For example, look at the north Wales area. That's a rural policing area, but we have got gun crime; we have got drug gangs coming into north Wales.

"It's similar in south Wales with the overspill of these drug barons from Bristol, so I'm afraid it's not good enough.

He said when additional costs such as pay increases and rise in National Insurance, maintenance and fuel increases had been accounted for, there would be barely enough money to cover the cost of inflation.

"That's no way to run any kind of police force," he added.