Suffolk is being overlooked, underfunded and unfairly treated like a "bucolic rural backwater", according to police and crime commissioner Tim Passmore.
Mr Passmore is voicing his frustration over the longstanding national police funding formula in light of recent police shoplifting figures in Ipswich.
His comments follow calls from Ipswich councillor Bryony Rudkin for stronger police action on shop theft.
He said: "We are still pressing the government to sort out the funding formula that discriminates against Suffolk, as I have been for the last 14 years, and that campaign continues.
"For some bizarre reason, for years, nothing has been done about it, which is completely unacceptable, and I am sick and tired of Suffolk being treated as some bucolic rural backwater."
His comments follow calls from Ipswich councillor Bryony Rudkin for stronger police action on shop theft amid the latest police figures for shoplifting in Ipswich.
Ms Rudkin described it as "a blight on the whole community" after her Bridge ward recorded the highest number of shoplifting offences in the town in June.
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Mr Passmore said: "We do have considerably more police officers than we've had before. We now have the town centre teams that are there to crack down on shoplifting."
However, he acknowledged the need for greater resources and continued collaboration with businesses and other partners.
He said: "It's also true to say that Ipswich is our county town. It does get its fair share of police and resources within what we have here.
"But I absolutely accept it's never enough, which is why the home office, for once in its life, needs to listen to us. As does the dead hand of the treasury and make sure the funding formula is sorted out, much more equitably."
He added: "I do hope when people are caught they are prosecuted accordingly and not just given a slap on the wrist."
Suffolk Constabulary said it continues to target shoplifting through a mix of enforcement, prevention, and support for businesses, including criminal behaviour orders and targeted operations against repeat offenders.
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