County council calls for better police funding

The motion that was proposed by county councillor Alex Bulat (left) and altered by Steve Count (right)

A county council has unanimously approved a motion that called for fairer police funding for the area and raised awareness of domestic abuse.

On Tuesday Cambridgeshire County councillor Alex Bulat, from Labour, proposed the motion which was seconded by Philippa Slatter, a Liberal Democrat councillor, with an alteration proposed by Conservative Steve Count.

The motion said that Cambridgeshire remains the fourth lowest funded police force in the country, adding that local taxpayers finance about half of the police’s budget in the county.

The motion called on the council officers to write to the home secretary and local MPs to campaign for a fairer share of police funding for the area.

'Worrying statistics'

The motion also called on task officers from the domestic abuse and sexual violence service to recruit additional ambassadors from across the council for the White Ribbon Scheme, which works to prevent harassment, abuse and violence against women and girls.

Bulat, the vice-chair for the Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion Committee, said: “The 2024 Quality of Life survey across Cambridgeshire shows that 85% of residents feel safe. But we remain the fourth lowest funded police force in the country, while having one of the highest population increases.

“The domestic abuse and sexual violence statistics are worrying, with domestic abuse making up one in five crimes recorded nationally.

“I am particularly thankful to my colleagues for supporting this motion on a cross-party basis, given that community safety is an important issue that affects everyone.”

Count, the leader of the Conservative group on the county council, said: “I supported this motion because safer communities is an issue that we can all get behind, regardless of our party affiliations.

"A properly resourced police force in Cambridgeshire is essential for community safety.”

The motion was passed unanimously.