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THE Daily Express is today urging readers to back a petition to increase the number of bobbies on the beat.

Former detective chief superintendent Kevin Moore is lobbying for a “root and branch” review – the first of its kind since 1960 – to beef up the thin blue line, amid fears that 91 per cent of crimes see no one charged.

Mr Moore will send the petition to Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who has urged Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick to step up action against knife crime, in the wake of huge manpower cuts.

Last month, the Express revealed only six of Britain’s cashstrapped police forces have officers on their front desks.

Violent crime has soared but compared with 2016, around 700 fewer police and staff are either dealing with the public at front desks or handling calls, which critics have branded a “scandal”.

Mr Moore’s online petition has already attracted 267,693 signatures and the Express is calling on readers to help get that figure up to 300,000.

Mr Moore said: “It’s heartbreaking to see the cuts being made. In this country we’ve lost 25,000 police officers since 2010.

“And the effects are clear to see – with over 91 per cent of crimes taking place without anyone getting charged.

“Without urgent change, it will only get worse and put us all a risk. That’s why I’m calling for the Home Secretary to hold a Royal Commission.”

He added: “I’m one of a group of 180 who are leading this campaign. We are called Retired Officers Who Care.

“The British public have a right to a police force which has the funding it needs to keeps us all safe and secure.”

To sign the petition, go to https:// www.change.org/p/sajid-javidprotect-and-improve-policing-inthe-uk-hold-a-royal-commission.