A COUNCILLOR has questioned why there are so few bobbies on the beat in Richmondshire, as figure show that the area has fewer than five recorded crimes a day.

County councillor Stuart Parsons, member for Richmond, made his comments at a meeting of the Richmondshire Area Committee after an update on policing in the district from Superintendent Amanda Oliver, the safer neighbourhood commander for Hambleton and Richmondshire.

Coun Parsons argued that although the police figures presented a positive picture of the levels of crime in the district, the complaints he received from members of public about a lack of police action on quality of life infringments, such as cars blocking pavements and low-level anti-social behaviour, were not being dealt with.

Supt Oliver told the meeting that crime in Richmondshire has fallen by 20 per cent in the last two years, making it one of the safest areas to live in the UK.

She said: “We have less than five crimes a day in Richmondshire in a 24 hour period, which makes it a challenge for us to bring the crime rate down even further. It really is a safe place to live.

“I am also pleased with the response time figures to call outs - given the challenges that we have with the geography of the area, its good to know that we are getting to where we need to be.”

Supt Oliver also outlined a number of priorities for police in the area, including operations against poachers and metal thieves and work to solve a number of house burglaries that have happened in recent weeks.

But Coun Parsons said: “Every time the superintendent comes to see us everything is at its best but that does not reflect what is coming back to me from residents.

“The operational priorities do not reflect the issues that are brought to me and that I have to pass on to police. If crime is falling to the levels that we are being told then that is wonderful but then we need police back in the community, because they have obviously dealt with all the big crimes.”

Supt Oliver told Coun Parsons that she would pass his concerns to the local inspector for Richmond.