CEREDIGION MP Ben Lake has called for a reform of the police funding formula to better reflect the specific challenges of rural forces.

After shadowing Dyfed Powys Police officers at his home town of Lampeter recently, the Ceredigion MP urged the Minister for Policing to look again at the police funding fromula in a question in the House of Commons.

Mr Lake spent a day on the beat in Lampeter as part of the #GiveADayToPolicing campaign, a scheme for Parliamentarians to better understand the challenges currently facing our police forces across the UK.

During his shift Mr Lake had the opportunity to experience a variety of aspects of local policing – from spending time with the neighbourhood policing team, attending reponse calls and discussing policing challenges with front-line police officers.

During his contribution at Parliament, as well as calling for the police funding formula to be reformed, Mr Lake also highlighted the need for the funding formula to take into consideration the seasonal pressures on forces, due to the significant increase in population of coastal areas during the summer months.

Mr Lake: “I had an invaluable experience out on the beat in Lampeter with Dyfed Powys Police officers. It has left me with both a broader understanding of the new challenges our police officers face, as well as a deeper level of respect and admiration for their bravery and commitment to public safety.

“We cannot expect a one size fits all approach to work effectively across the whole of the UK, and as such, it is imperative that the criteria for the central Government grant are revised so that they reflect the increased demands and unique challenges faced by rural forces in areas such as Ceredigion.”

Nick Hurd MP, the Minister for Policing, accepted the points raised by Mr Lake in the chamber and said they would need to be considered further as part of the UK Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

Mr Lake added: “Inadequate funding is leaving police forces and officers across Wales overstretched and under-resourced.

"It is widely acknowledged that Welsh police forces have suffered under the present funding formula and so it is high time that the UK Government either amends the formula to address this or devolve the responsibility for policing to the Welsh Government so that they may do so themselves."