Arming officers ruled out by police chief

further costs. But, coming back to the local aspect, having that sort of engagement with communities is crucial in these types of situations.”

Neighbourhood policing is also one which requires partnership working, grassroots level relationships and an approachable police force he says – ruling out heavier handed tactics that could have been justified given recent attacks on police officers as some Black Lives Matters protests around the country turned violent.

Mr Burns-Williamson added: “We police by consent in this country.

“In America there has been far too many killings that have occurred through officers using firearms. I hope that we don’t ever get to the position where we have to routinely arm police officers, but on the flip side we have seen increased assaults on police officers and emergency service workers which is totally unacceptable.

“There is a balance to be struck. I was sickened to see those events (in London) and attitudes of people who purport to be there for certain reasons but they are just to court trouble.

“I don’t support routinely arming police officers, it would be a sad day to get to that.

“We have specialist officers in firearms units, and we need those because of issues around counter terrorism and organised crime but they are very much in a targeted way.

“The police would not support officers being routinely armed – when the Police Federation has done surveys, that has been the feedback. I think we are a long way from anything like that.”

● Data which covers the four weeks of crime figures, calls and reports up to May 10 compared to the same period last year show an average reduction of 23 per cent, with assault and personal robbery falling by 30 per cent, rape down by 23.8 per cent, residential burglary down 45.2 per cent, and theft from and of vehicles fell by 43.9 per cent, shoplifting figures dropped by 58.6 per cent and there were 37.2 per cent fewer missing person reports. Calls to 999 were down 20.7 per cent but 101 calls had only dropped 6.7 per cent compared to the national average of 25 per cent.