“Even if Wiltshire received just the average funding it would mean we could have 100 more fully-trained and equipped police officers - and that would make a huge difference.”

Those were the words of frustrated Wiltshire and Swindon’s Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson on the government’s funding of police forces.

And with Wiltshire one of the worst-funded forces in the country Mr Wilkinson - himself a Conservative - told members of Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Panel that he was asking the government to change the funding formula.

It currently sees Wiltshire receive £104 per person in the county, well below even the average of £132 per head.

He said: “I have written to the Home Secretary twice about the formula, which is biased in favour of town and urban areas and not rural counties like Wiltshire.”

He said an average level of per capita funding would see Wiltshire Police with an extra £12m in funding every year enough to employ at least 100 more officers.

But Mr Wilkinson discerns a different political imperative in Whitehall, and he admitted he doesn’t think it will change soon.

Despite his approaches to the Home Secretary, he said: “I don’t have much confidence the government will change from funding Red wall urban, northern areas to rural Conservative southern ones.”

In response, a Home Office spokesman said Wiltshire was being funded by the government to allow it to recruit scores more officers.

A spokesman said: “Our police make sacrifices every day to protect the British people, and we are steadfast in our admiration for our hardworking, brave and dedicated officers.

“We continue to support the police, including record investment and the recruitment of 20,000 additional officers by March 2023.

“Wiltshire Police has recruited an extra 98 officers so far, and will receive funding of up to £148.3 million in 2023/24, an increase of up to £6.1 million compared to 2022/23.”

Mr Wilkinson told members of the committee he intended to take the maximum allowed increase in council tax precept - £15 for an average Band D payer, which equates to a 6.5 per cent increase across the board.

He said: “I don’t want to take £15; I don’t want to take £5.

“But if I don’t take as much as I’m allowed, when I go back to the Home Secretary and say Wiltshire is underfunded, and I haven’t taken the increase, that totally undermines my argument.”