Gloucestershire's police and crime commissioner (PCC) has appealed to the government not to ignore rural areas when recruiting thousands more police.

PCC Chris Nelson welcomed the promise of 13,000 extra officers, contained in the King's Speech, and its commitment to tackle violence against women and girls.

But he questioned how the new officers would be paid for and called on the government not to favour the big urban centres at the expense of others.

Speaking at a meeting of the county's police and crime panel, Mr Nelson said: "I welcome the government's promise to fund another 13,000 police officers and its focus on neighbourhood policing.

"I am a big believer in neighbourhood policing, it was in my manifesto. But even after the 20,000 extra officers in the last uptake, the police still need reinforcements. They need strengthening and I hope we will benefit. But my worry is they will go to the big urban forces with higher crime rates."

Police forces are funded through a combination of council tax and a grant from central government. Mr Nelson told the meeting he was concerned how that will be delivered in future.

He said: "They talk of renewing the funding formula, but everyone knows that's out of date and obsolete. It favours the big urban centres at the expense of shires, with lots of villages and small roads where the police aren't as visible as they are in the towns and cities.

"If it's not new money, but comes from savings, will they simply be robbing Peter to pay Paul? I won't be happy if I'm Peter."

H continued: "I really welcome the aspiration to cut violence against women and girls by 50%. It's a worthy aspiration and it will be hard, but it is possible. I have managed to cut ASB by 60%, so demanding targets can be achieved, with focus and appropriate resourcing.

"We must do all we can to tackle the epidemic of violence against women and girls."

The meeting also heard that, following his re-election, Mr Nelson has been appointed the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners' lead on local policing and police performance.

He has also taken up a leading position in an ongoing project to build homes for ex-offenders when they come out of prison.

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