GOVERNMENT TO KEEP "SPARSITY" GRANT FOR RURAL POLICING - KEETCH

9.45.00am GMT Fri 15th Oct 2004

The Government has confirmed to local Lib Dem MP Paul Keetch that West Mercia Constabulary will keep its £2.3 million "Sparsity Grant" next year, despite being nominated by the Government for its high spending. The commitment from the Minister for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety, Hazel Blears, came in a debate this week on funding for the Constabulary initiated by the Labour MP for Worcester Mike Foster.

"Nine MPs from West Mercia spoke in what was a very good humoured debate," said Mr Keetch.

"There was agreement from Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs, and the Independent MP from Wyre Forest, that the Force is not only efficiently run but also poorly resourced by successive Governments.

"The only sour point of the debate was criticism of Community Support Officers by the Tory MP for Mid Worcester, Peter Luff.

"I was pleased that the Minister confirmed that the Sparsity Grant that is given to the Force for policing in rural areas will remain, although once again it will not be increased by inflation. With the Force under pressure though, there was concern that the grant may be cut".

The Lib Dem MP for Ludlow, Matthew Green, raised the issue of a new custody suite in Leominster that would be used by people from South Shropshire. Presently people arrested in Ludlow have to be escorted by two officers to Shrewsbury. The new cells will reduce the time the police have to escort detainees. He welcomed the new suite and asked why the Leominster MP was not present in the debate.

The MPs for Worcester, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Wyre Forest, Telford, North Shropshire, Mid Worcester and The Wrekin were present for the debate.

Ends