MORE front line officers are needed to tackle crime according to the Police Federation, after latest figures reveal that crime in Slough has rocketed by 10 per cent.

Thames Valley Police released its annual crime statistics today (Thursday) showing that all recorded crime in Slough jumped from 10,755 incidents in 2014/15 to 11,845 in 2015/16.

Figures for Windsor and Maidenhead remained around the same mark, with a 0.6 per cent increase from 7,895 to 7,945 incidents, and a rise of 12.4 per cent in Chiltern and South Bucks from 6,350 to 7,140.

Graham Smith, chairman of the Thames Valley Police Federation, said that he was concerned by the rise which was due, he said, to a lack of front line officers.

He said: “Policing over the last six years has suffered big budget cuts which have had an impact on the front lines. The more pressure and the less visible policing there is, the more opportunity there is to commit crime.

“The idea that we can cut budgets and reduce crime, which we have been told by the government repeatedly, doesn’t work and the pigeons are coming home to roost.

“The bottom line is that if you want a safe and secure area then you need front line policing.”

Victim-based crime in Slough, which includes sex offences, violent attacks and vehicle crime, rose by 9.9 per cent.

There was a 12 per cent increase in crimes such as drug offences and possession of weapons.

Vehicle crime has also risen, by 7.7 per cent, but burglary continues to drop, falling by 9.2 per cent from 1,025 to 931.

Superintendent Gavin Wong, local police commander for Slough, said: “We are continuing to see some real successes with burglary year-on-year with the number of offences falling significantly. We have half the number of burglaries recorded than five years ago, which is fantastic news for all concerned.

“We are carrying out some analytical work to understand this increase [in vehicle crime]. We will ensure any relevant measures are put in place to combat this issue. There does not appear to have been any set pattern or trend at the moment, although we have had a number of mopeds stolen over the course of this year.”

The number of recorded rapes in Windsor and Maidenhead has increased from 46 to 64 – a 39.1 per cent rise – and violence with injury offences have risen by 30.2 per cent from 606 to 789.

Burglary and vehicle crimes have reduced though, by 18.4 per cent and 13.4 per cent respectively, while there was a rise in Chiltern and South Bucks of 8.7 per cent and 3.9 per cent.

Violence with injury has nearly doubled in Chiltern and South Bucks, from 380 to 558 offences, a 46.8 per cent increase, and rape has gone up by a fifth from 45 to 54 offences.

Chiltern and South Bucks LPA commander, Supt Yvette Hitch, said: “While I can completely understand and appreciate that any increase in crime figures may be seen as a cause for concern, I would like to reassure you all that where there are clearly improvements to be made, these will remain our priority over the forthcoming weeks, months and year. It is as much our drive to reduce crime, fear and disorder.”