AN ‘out-of-date’ police funding formula which had seen Avon and Somerset miss out on more than £100milion is to be replaced, it has been announced.

The way in which government funding is allocated to police forces in England and Wales is to be simplified and made fairer.

The Home Office announcement has been warmly welcomed by Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens, who says the region has lost out on £110million it was assessed to need because of the outdated funding model.

She said: “We’ve long campaigned against the out-dated method which has seen Avon and Somerset lose out on £110 million it is assessed to need since its implementation in 2006.

“As we face hard financial choices about how to prioritise reducing and finite resources, we are forced to look harder and cut deeper than others who have fared better from the funding model.

“This has an adverse impact on police numbers and means that we have 240 fewer officers than average for the size of population.”

The Home Office has said it plans to bring in the new formula as soon as is appropriate and Ms Mountstevens said she hopes it will be implemented in full ‘without lengthy transitional arrangements’.