SWINDON and Wiltshire's Police Crime Commissioner is demanding fairer funding from the government.

The county’s force, which has had to save £19 million in the last five years, is systematically underfunded by government by around £20 per person, per year.

Wiltshire receives £151 per person to deliver policing, while the national figure is £171.

Other similar forces receive £168 per person - £17 per person more.

Last month’s National Audit Office report backed PCC Angus Macpherson's calls for a reform to the funding formula.

The report concluded the way in which the Home Office chooses to distribute funds is ‘ineffective’ and ‘has been …. detatched from the changing nature of policing for too long’.

Mr Macpherson has written to the home secretary Sajid Javid about the disparity in funding.

He said: “Enough is enough. Wiltshire has been under-funded for far too long.

“Wiltshire isn’t immune to the same policing pressures faced by every force up and down the country.

"We have seen upward shifts in crime and are responding to more demand than ever before but are given significantly less per person than other forces.

“Many of the issues we are dealing with are the same as major urban areas.

"We need to be alive to the dangers of counter terrorism, knife crime, dangerous drug networks, modern day slavery and sexual exploitation as emerging national threats.

“We are using what we have efficiently and resourcefully while meeting complex policing needs.

"That has been echoed by the HMICFRS in last year’s round of inspections, where we received consistent ‘good’ gradings - but there is only so far the budget will stretch.

“However, I know funding reform isn’t going to happen overnight and I would urge our county’s MPs to join with me in applying political pressure so that this historical under-funding of our county is stopped.”

This year, after consultation with Wiltshire residents, Angus raised the policing element of the council tax by £1 a month, per household, after the Home Office allowed PCCs greater flexibility to increase this part of the precept.

He hopes this flexibility will continue next year.

He added: “Wiltshire residents are keen to invest in their policing service – they overwhelmingly supported plans to raise our element of the council tax so that I could ensure the service we provide can cope with the extra demands placed upon it.

“By doing this I was able to protect community policing and bolster its reach and I hope to be asking them again next year, to step up to the plate.

“As a county, and a force, we are doing all we can - now it is time government takes its share of responsibility.

"The people of Wiltshire and Swindon deserve a fair deal.”