Oral Question·Home Office
“What steps she is taking to help ensure effective policing in rural areas.”
Tabled: 3 February 2026Answered: 9 February 2026
Asked by
Sir Julian Smith
Conservative — Skipton and Ripon
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for the Home Department
Answer from Hansard
The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)
We are ensuring that forces have the tools and resources they need to deal with rural crime by providing funding of over £800,000 this financial year to the specialist national rural and wildlife crime units. We are strengthening neighbourhood policing through the neighbourhood policing guarantee, including in rural areas, by ensuring that every neighbourhood has named, contactable officers, more visible patrols and a commitment to respond to non-urgent queries within 72 hours.