MP STANDS UP FOR AGRICULTURAL SHOWS

MONMOUTH MP David Davies has recently been involved in discussions over the cost of policing for public events, such as football matches and agricultural shows.

The Home Affairs Select Committee, which Mr Davies sits on, has recommended that the police are more transparent in the way they calculate charges for policing football matches and believes charges should be standardised across the country.

In the last ten years policing of football matches has been very successful, with the amount of arrests decreasing. One of the proposals being put forward by the Committee is that perhaps less stewards are needed, which would make the costs smaller.

Speaking during a recent meeting, Mr Davies emphasised the impact this will have upon agricultural shows.

"As an officer for the British Transport Police, I have been on duty at the Notting Hill Carnival," he said.

"This is a huge event which is expensively policed, but the organisation is not charged. If there is no charge for policing the Notting Hill Carnival I can see no reason why rural agricultural shows should be charged.

"The Notting Hill Carnival is very expensive to run yet it is not charged for policing, so why should agricultural shows, which mainly consist of small community gatherings, be charged? I find it hard to understand as there are not usually scenes of widespread disorder or fighting between different gangs of farmers.

"This is especially important when you consider the rural economy is struggling in the recession. If the charges were altered it would not only benefit the organisers so that more events could be held, but the rural community in general would also benefit".