RURAL areas have fewer police officers per head of population than urban areas, it has emerged.

Details of police numbers were obtained by the Countryside Alliance. It published the figures ahead of the first ever Police & Crime Commissioner Elections on 15 November.

On average, rural areas within police forces in England and Wales have fewer police officers, police community support officers (PCSOs), and special officers per head of population, it found.

There was one police officer for 1,037 people in rural areas in 2011-2012, compared to 581 people in urban areas.

Similarly, In 2011-2012, there was one police community support officer (PCSO) for 4,794 people in rural areas compared to 3,530 people in urban areas.

In the same year, there was one special officer for 3,335 people in rural areas compared to 3,004 people in urban areas.

The Countryside Alliance said many constabularies covered both urban population centres and dispersed rural communities.

A key task for the elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) would be to ensure that rural areas did not see police numbers depleted further, the alliance said.

Alliance chairman Barney White-Spunner said commissioners should ensure policing and crime in rural areas was not be a forgotten priority.

"These figures will make worrying reading for country people, many of whom have found themselves victims of crime.

"Any reduction in police funding will require careful planning so as not to disadvantage those in the countryside.

"What we need to see is proper consideration given by PCCs to crime in rural areas, police funding and staffing."

The election of PCCs – who will set the policing plan and budgets for their force area – is the biggest change to policing in many years.

Commissioners will also be able to hold chief constables to account for delivering their plans and cutting crime.

Home Secretary Theresa May has described the election of PCCs as "the most important change" to policing, with commissioners having "real responsibility – and real power – over local policing"