The Rural Services Network (RSN) is encouraging members and supporters to respond to a government consultation on funding rural policing.

The RSN is supporting a 'rural policing matters' campaign by the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN), which is encouraging consultation responses.

NRCN research due to be published next month shows trust in policing is much lower among rural residents than it is among urban residents, says NRCN chair Julia Mulligan.

Without proper resourcing for rural police forces, it is possible that some crimes and anti-social behaviour might not get the attention they deserve.

The NRCN argues that a proposed new funding formula fails to take into account the unit-cost of policing a rural area.

It says the formula also fails to reflect the majority of work the police do which is not in fact crime-related – such as road safety or responding to welfare issues.

Both the RSN and the NRCN are encouraging as many rural residents as possible to respond to the government consultation on the issue.

RSN chief executive Graham Biggs said: "We believe that the new police funding formula should recognise the "inbuilt complexities" of dealing with crime in rural, isolated areas."

Full details about the 'rural policing matters' campaign, including the consultation, are available on the NRCN website.

To ensure your voice is hear, the Rural Services Network suggest responding to the government's consultation using a prepared template letter available here.

The RSN is also encouraging people to sign the 'rural policing matters' petition, which is also available here.

Please bear in mind that all consultation responses have to be with the government by 15 September.