The thinner blue line: more and more people say they never see a bobby on the beat

THE perception of bobbies on the beat has plummeted, according to the public, as statistics showed the number of people who believe police are “highly visible” in their community has fallen by almost half. Just one in five (22 per cent) people said they feel officers are highly visible, according to the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales, which looks at the period from April last year to March this year.

This compared with 39 per cent in April 2010 to March 2011, while the percentage of the public who said they “never” see police foot patrols has risen by more than half, from 25 per cent to 39 per cent. It follows a survey last year, which found that one in three people in England and Wales has not seen a bobby on the beat in their local area in the past year.

The poll carried out for HM Inspector of Constabulary found 36 per cent of people had not seen a police officer or PCSO on foot in their areas in the past year – while just under a quarter (23 per cent) had seen uniformed personnel “once or twice”. The watchdog warned of the “erosion” of neighbourhood policing as forces are forced to make further financial cuts.

Louise Haigh, the shadow policing minister, said: “Bobbies on the beat don’t just reassure the public, they collect vital community intelligence and help to keep us safe. Savage cuts mean this tried and tested bedrock of British policing is being chipped away as police withdraw from neighbourhood policing altogether.

“Police visibility has rarely been lower and the blame lies squarely at the Government’s door.”