Warning that police funding shortfall risks national security

  • Anglia
Bedfordshire Crime Commissioner is warning his force is on the brink of becoming "unviable" after years of underfunding. Credit: ITV News Anglia

The Police and Crime Commissioner of Bedfordshire says his force is on the brink of becoming "unviable" after years of underfunding and that national security could be at risk.

Olly Martins believes areas such as Luton face the same policing demands as many London boroughs but only receives a fraction of the resources.

It's not only Bedfordshire Police feeling the strain. In Cambridgeshire they've already closed eight police stations and a review is underway which could see more follow shut.

Bedfordshire Police has 163 police officers per 100,000 people which is well below the national average of 226.

It's fewer than half the number of officers at the Metropolitan Police Service, which has 381 per 100,000.

The Home Office told ITV News Anglia: "Allocations for individual police force areas have not been set and decisions on funding will not be made until the Spending Review reports in November."

The Home Office says police force funding allocations will be set in the Autumn Statement in November. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Click below to watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Russell Hookey