Lincolnshire Police role candidate takes fight for fairer funding to Downing Street
A man who hopes to take on Lincolnshire's Policing and Crime Commissioner role has taken the fight for fairer funding to Downing Street.
Independent candidate for the reported £65,000-a-year post David Bowles has personally delivered a letter to the Prime Minister.
-
David Bowles
It outlines the urgent need for a ministerial review of the funding formula used to work out policing budgets.
He is being backed by his counterparts in the rural areas Cumbria, North Wales and Dorset.
Get 10% off your GAP insurance with ALA.co.uk using the promotional code LW10
Contact: 01653 916304
Valid until: Wednesday, June 18 2014
It comes ahead of elections for the commissioner roles on November 15 but Mr Bowles insists he does not want to bring political mud-slinging into the issue.
Mr Bowles has also launched a petition on the Government's website called "Fair funding for rural police forces".
He said: "I will have a focus on two issues, being tougher on crime and sorting out the finances. I have been absolutely staggered at how badly our force is funded but not only that, it has got worse."
It has been widely reported that Lincolnshire Police is one of the most under-funded in the country because the grant from Whitehall is so low.
Mr Bowles said this is because of a misplaced perception that crime rates are low.
"It is a myth," he said.
"Excluding London, crime rates are on a par with much of the rest of the country but actually worse than places like Sussex, Kent, Essex and Hertfordshire.
"In spite of this we have fewer officers per head of population than any other part of the country. We have 1.65 officers per 1,000 population while the national average is 50 per cent higher.
"Looking at the way we are treated in a complicated formula I have assessed a shortfall of well over £7m per annum – enough for around another 130 police officers with back up and support."
Mr Bowles says the problem has been exacerbated by the abolition of the Rural Police Fund last year.
Chairman of Lincolnshire Police Federation Stuart Hamilton said: "Funding equals police officers. This is not new news, it's a long-standing issue that's never been addressed by Government and we are, without a shadow of a doubt, let down by the funding formula which makes the cuts we have faced even harder to stomach."
Comments
by Bill_Door
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 6:55PM
“I think I liked it more when what's-his-face Davis was scrabbling for votes. At least he replied promptly.”
by InsideStory
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 6:32PM
“It looks very much like my question was a little difficult to answer .”
by InsideStory
Monday, October 15 2012, 8:17PM
“It's a shame we are not seeing more comments from our candidate's it's nice to interact .”
by A_Mason
Monday, October 15 2012, 4:44PM
“I thank M_C_Donald for reminding us about Mr Bowle's previous roles.
His most recent position was as Managing Director at Anglesey Council. The following provides an interesting overview of his experience there. http://tinyurl.com/c8dt8ye
I also wonder how Mr Bowles will cope with any pressure to meet Government targets - given that wass his stated reason for quitting his job at the hospital!”
by mickeymouse99
Monday, October 15 2012, 12:35PM
“Ive emailed Mr Bowles about his position regarding speed cameras, so far hes failed to reply to my email. Not very good.”
by M_C_Donald
Monday, October 15 2012, 12:03PM
“Mr Bowles, explain how you departure from the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is supposed to fill us with confidence. For whatever reason you could not drive through internal changes so you resigned.
Now you want to be elected to run the Police. How can the public be sure that you will be able to drive change in Lincolnshire Police and stick with it and make it happen?”
by InsideStory
Monday, October 15 2012, 5:33AM
“I may be wrong in my forecast but the Lincolnshire's Policing and Crime Commissioner does not seem as if it will have any more credibility than the existing system .”
by InsideStory
Sunday, October 14 2012, 7:38AM
“djbowles
While your with us on the comments page may i ask a you very important question ?
Are you or have you ever been a member of any secret society ?
While you may find the question rather personal i feel the question a very important one due to the position you may hold if you are successfully elected.”
by djbowles
Saturday, October 13 2012, 11:31PM
“M_C_Donald suggest you check your facts. Did see Lincolnshire County Council through to the bitter end of Speechley being jailed for corruption.
He would never have gone to jail had I not been determined to see it through and get it to a point where police could act. Other before me had cut and run, including his own conservative group who did not do their job and control him; I had to do it for them. Did I get thanked - no. They decided that if I would expose Speechley they did not want me to stay and take the risk of me exposing them - so they forced me out of a job I did not want to leave.”
by M_C_Donald
Saturday, October 13 2012, 10:03PM
“Interestingly this was a £75,000 a year job a couple of days ago, must be cut backs or the Echo can't get its fact right.
Looking at Bowles career over the last 10 years or so, he seems to lack the ability to stick to job and see it through.”