A CAMPAIGN has been launched to address the way police funding is allocated to forces in the South West.

Devon and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg is challenging the Government for fairer funding across the country.

He said that rural areas were disadvantaged by a 'scandalous funding formula' that favoured big city police forces.

Mr Hogg said: 'It is time to make the voice of the South West heard. London based civil servants need to understand the anger of the local population that receives less money for its policing and other important public services from Government. In times of austerity it is vital that we receive our fair share.'

The campaign will call on South West MPs and key decision makers to tackle a system that he said took no account of a unique set of demands placed on Devon and Cornwall Police.

Mr Hogg said the main issues that police forces in the area are pushed to deal with are levels of deprivation, particularly in parts of Cornwall, Plymouth and Torbay and increased levels of vulnerability resulting from an increase in mental health issues, an elderly population and low income families.

Moderate levels of violent crime, sexual and public order offences and the length of coastline with more than 300 ports and harbours that increase potential for human trafficking, slavery and illegal movement of goods are further issues that Mr Hogg believed the current funding system overlooks.

The impact of tourism on South West policing is central to the Fair Funding Campaign.

Between April and September more than one million people per month visit the two counties, peaking at 1.5-million in July and August; with more than 10- million stays and 50-million day visits to Devon and Cornwall every year, Mr Hogg has argued that the increase in population leads to an increased pressure on policing resources.

Mr Hogg added: 'Further spending cuts are inevitable over the life of this parliament and we will continue to be hit harder than other forces if we do not address this now.

'No account is made in the formula for these additional numbers and yet funding is provided for daily visitor numbers which is to the benefit of London and other metropolitan centres that have a daily commuter influx.

'It is nonsense to argue that commuters create a bigger policing demand than tourist visitors, who are active from morning into the late evening. This is not an argument against tourism, just that central formulas should recognise the demands that it makes on local services including policing.'

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer has voiced his support for the campaign to ensure Devon and Cornwall get a fairer share of the overall police funding from the Home Office.

He added: 'It is fundamentally wrong that, because of the way the formula is currently written, the taxpayers of Devon and Cornwall are paying twice for policing.

'Millions of people visit Devon and Cornwall every year, but most do not see the areas of deprivation that sit alongside the stunning coast and beautiful countryside.

'It is much harder to make a case for a change in the funding arrangements when people don't see crime taking place all around them. But, make no mistake, crime does happen in our rural, coastal and urban areas. I welcome the debate the PCC has started today.'