Police in Slough are working to make its open spaces safer says the town's top officer Superintendent Gavin Wong - but he has warned that people also have to take responsibility for their own safety.

A spate of recent attacks in Salt Hill Park and other open spaces across the town, plus a spate of armed raids have fed concerns about public safety.

But Superintendent Wong pointed out that police had successfully arrested the perpetrators of several of the crimes.

Ironically the high profile court cases often serve to increase public unease by providing reminders of recent crimes.

But Superintendent Wong said that the arrests had been backed up by other actions.

He said: "We have been doing a lot of work on open spaces working with the borough council as part of the Safer Slough Partnership.

"What we have to make sure is that we tell people what we are doing.

"Additional cameras have been put into Salt Hill Park "There has been an additional police presence and mounted police have also come down to lend their high profile presence.

"But we can't patrol 24 hours a day."

He said that people need to make a contribution to ensuring their own safety.

"We should all be able to walk in the park any time of day, leave our houses unlocked and leave our cars unlocked. But we have to accept life as it is.

"That means being aware what time it is if there are not any other people around.

"It is about being a little bit more aware, not overly cautious but sensible about things, taking a little bit of responsibility. We all have to work together.

"Open spaces are available to everybody. But we need to be a little bit more realistic."