Our Community needs Effective Policing

10.39.52pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 12th Apr 2009

County Councillor Nick Hollinghurst is calling for more police officers in his area rather than the cut in numbers just announced by the Police Authority

People in outlying areas of the County, such as Tring, Berkhamsted and Bovingdon, fear that the Police Authority's cash problems will mean lower levels of policing. After the recent armed raid on Tesco, Tring is especially worried. As local Liberal Democrat Councillor Denise Rance put it, "There was no police presence in Tring at the time of the Tesco raid and officers had to come in from other areas. This is wrong and I believe we are very vulnerable."

Recently taxpayers were warned they would have to pay more to the Police Authority - just as cuts of 150 police officers were announced. Opening hours of local Police Stations were also to be cut.

Nick Hollinghurst, County Councillor for Tring & the Villages said, "Sadly, the build up of the evening economy has brought us more weekend rowdiness. This and increases in anti-social behaviour means we need more officers - not fewer."

"The recent raids in Tring show that big city crime is now reaching our small market towns. We need effective policing to fight it."

"But," he added, "there is a way we can all help. Use the Crimestopper number 0845 33 00 222 and report incidents. Remember - community policing means community involvement!"