Neighbouring MPs today demanded that the Government take action to ensure that Cambridgeshire police receives a fairer allocation of funding. Both MPs spoke in a debate which was initiated by Stewart Jackson, the MP for Peterborough, which was also attended by other Cambridgeshire MPs.
Cambridgeshire has one of the fastest growing populations in the country, due to a mixture of large scale building of new properties in the area and also to a big increase in the number of migrant workers to East Anglia.
This large influx of migrant workers creates a number of additional problems for the police - international crime such as people trafficking are on the increase, as are offences committed due to differences in culture and not knowing the law of the land, such as drink driving and the carrying of knives. There is also an additional cost to pay for translation services as well as more time being spent by officers having to wait for translators to arrive before interviews with suspects, victims or witnesses can commence.
This large growth in population and associated pressures is not adequately recognised by the Government in the police funding formula. Population data used as part of the formula is four years out of date, and thus does not reflect accurately the current situation on the ground. Moreover, the formula was changed in 2002 and capped for certain authorities, including Cambridgeshire. These mean that Cambridgeshire has received approximately £17.5m less than it deserves since 2002.
Mr Djanogly said:
"The Minister was left in no doubt of our position here - but he simply restated existing policy with a rather weak promise to discuss our points with the (absent) Police Minister. We have some serious funding problems in Cambridgeshire and as the local population rises, those problems will only increase."
Mr Vara said:
"Cambridgeshire police are doing the best they can with the limited resources available. The Home Office need to understand that this issue is not going to go away simply by giving it warm words. We need action and it needs to be now."