A POLICE and crime commissioner hopeful said he had pressed the case for more police funding when he met the prime minister this week.

Jonathon Seed, chosen as the Conservative Party’s candidate in next year’s election for commissioner, said Boris Johnson and Priti Patel had promised to look into his and other commissioner candidates’ concerns.

Wiltshire Police has historically been underfunded compared to other forces. Angus Macpherson, the county’s police and crime commissioner since 2012, has previously hit out at what he has branded an unfair deal from government.

Last year, the force received around £150 per person from government for policing compared to a national average of £170.

Speaking to the BBC, Jonathan Seed called for a change to the “appalling funding formula” that resulted in Wiltshire receiving less than other areas. He said he had spoken to home secretary, Priti Patel, and the prime minister about the challenges. The senior politicians had said they would look at the problem, Mr Seed claimed. He added: “That is the first time we have been able to get in at that level and get that commitment to look at the problem.”