ONE AREA of Berkshire has seen the number of police areas patrolling its streets more than double in the decade.

That’s one revelation from figures published by Thames Valley Police showing how police numbers have changed in the past ten years.

Data published by the force indicates the number of police officers by local policing area (LPA), with figures starting from March 2010 and ending at March 2020.

READ MORE: All the times police couldn't identify suspects in town centre crimes

Of the five LPAs in Berkshire, three saw an increase in police officers designated to a particular part of the county.

A police officer. Photo credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire.

A police officer. Photo credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire.

These were Bracknell and Wokingham, Reading, and West Berkshire.

West Berkshire saw the biggest rise with 107 extra police officers added from 2010 to 2020, a surge of 184 per cent.

READ MORE: Four drivers fined for driving vehicles that were too heavy

Dogs will search through bins and letter boxes. Images via Thames Valley Police

Dogs will search through bins and letter boxes. Images via Thames Valley Police

The other two, Slough and Windsor and Maidenhead, saw a drop in the past decade.

Slough now has 36 fewer officers than it did a decade ago, a decline of 16 per cent.

The data comes following a Freedom of Information response from Thames Valley Police.

READ MORE: The names and faces of the people from Berkshire who have been missing for years

We've set up a new Facebook group where you can find all the most interesting court and crime stories from around Berkshire.

Click the link above to join.