Helen challenges Minister over rural crime reporting

Helen Morgan MP has challenged the Government over policing in rural areas, arguing that not enough police are available in towns and villages due to a flawed funding formula.

The MP told the Commons that residents in places like Oswestry and Whitchurch often don’t report crime when it happens, due to a perceived lack of action taken by West Mercia Police.

At a policing meeting in Oswestry last year, chaired by Mayor Jay Moore, many residents complained that they had not had follow-ups despite having contacted the authorities over anti-social behaviour in the town.

Helen raised problems in Oswestry and Whitchurch with the Policing Minister in a House of Commons exchange earlier this week.

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, said, “The Minister will know that the funding for allocations for policing are based on reported crime and not on underlying crime rates. In rural areas like North Shropshire, people report that they don't always report a crime when it happens. Residents in Oswestry and Whitchurch have told me that they don't bother to phone the police because they don't think anyone's coming.

“So will the Minister consider reassessing that for formula to ensure that in rural areas the funding reflects the level of underlying crime that's going on?”

Diana Johnson MP, Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, said, “Can I just reassure the Honourable Lady that funding for the year 2025/6 for her police force will be at £316.3 million, so that is an increase of £18 million on the figures from this year. And of course I would encourage all people who are victims of crime to report it. We need to have that information so the police can then make the resources available that are required.”

Whitchurch Mayor Andy Hall has also been campaigning to cut crime and anti-social behaviour, an issue which he says is a regular ‘doorstep conversation’ around the town.

Councillor Andy Hall, Mayor of Whitchurch, said, “It comes up constantly on the doorstep that crime and anti-social behaviour in town seems higher than usual at the moment. A lot of that is down to the perception that West Mercia Police are not taking up reported issues, which in turn leads to the problems that Helen Morgan raised with the Minister. Whitchurch deserves better than this, and it was good to see us mentioned in Parliament as an example of a town being let down by the current formula, which has to change.”