Former MP says the thin blue line is now too thin

Warwickshire Police Authority last month posted overall crime figures for the year leading up to April 2012 on its website, but former Warwick and Leamington MP James Plaskitt, who hopes to become the Labour Party’s candidate, says they show cuts to police numbers have gone too far.

He points to an overall rise in crime in Warwick district of four per cent. The number of burglaries rose by 444 to 528 - a rise of 19 per cent - while theft from motor vehicles rose by more than a quarter from 776 to 976.

Mr Plaskitt said: “We are looking at rising crime and falling police numbers.

“The priorities are wrong. The government’s deep cuts to policing mean we are all paying through higher levels of crime. The leap in household burglary across our district is especially worrying.”

The incidence of serious violent crime also rose by 12 per cent, and the only significant falls recorded were for theft from businesses, down 24 per cent, and theft of vehicles, which fell by two per cent.

Mr Plaskitt added the county’s police force now had more than 200 fewer officers than before reorganisation in the wake of falling budgets.

He added: “Warwickshire’s policing cuts are the biggest outside London and there can be no justification for that.

“The police are doing the best they can, but across the district neighbourhood policing is being carried out by around 40 officers and the rise in crime levels suggest that the thin blue line is now simply too thin.”

A Warwickshire Police spokeswoman said: “Performance in tackling burglary across Warwickshire has seen an improvement during the last two months with a 5.2 per cent reduction compared to the same period in 2011. Serious violent crime has also fallen during the same period and the force continues to focus its efforts on those crimes that cause most harm to local communities.

“The Chief Constable will be presenting a report to the Police Authority in June which will outline future proposed policing arrangements to deliver high quality, value for money, policing services across Warwickshire within the resources available. We are working in alliance with West Mercia Police to ensure that we deliver the most effective and efficient policing possible.

“Future policing arrangements will clearly look at all aspects of our services and resources including numbers of police officers and staff.”