Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner calls on Government to 'reverse police cuts'

By Kris Jepson

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC, has told ITV News Tyne Tees the Government needs to "reverse police cuts" to enable the force to fight increasing levels of crime.

New Northumbria Police figures suggest there are 904 fewer officers in the force area than there was in 2010 and crime has increased by 109 per cent between 2014-17.

In the same period, the force figures suggest violent crime has increased by 222 per cent, with the most violent incidents rising by 64 per cent.

Watch @krisjepson's report here:

Dame Vera said she has spent Northumbria Police's reserves "down to the very tightest safe minimum to keep officers on the beat", but claimed with ever decreasing government funding, "it cannot continue".

Home Secretary, Amber Rudd MP, argued it was a "mistake" and a "disservice" to communities and families for critics to try to "make political capital" by blaming police numbers for a rise in violent crime.

Dame Vera, a former Labour minister, rejected that assessment, claiming she is not playing politics over the issue.

A Home Office leaked document emerged on Monday, suggesting policing cuts had “likely contributed” to a rise in serious violent crime.

The Home Secretary, who was launching the government's new strategy for dealing with violent crime, was forced to defend her position.