COTSWOLDS police chief Karen Ellis responded to anger from councillors over the loss of a police community support officer in Tetbury.

At a town council meeting in March, councillors said they were disappointed to have lost PCSO Paul Hancock, who would be moved to cover the north Cotswold area.

Councillors were concerned that the move was made at a time when the population will increase with new builds and when crime in the town was going up.

Inspector Ellis spoke to councillors and residents at the town’s annual meeting on Wednesday, April 26: “I think it is quite important to address staffing and resources. I appreciate we have a good team here. While Paul is leaving, there are still Cotswolds assets.

“I would love to have more police officers here.”

Inspector Ellis said that a shortage of staff would mean that police will now have to work stronger together with residents: “I am confident there are still other people who want to get involved with the police.

“It is not necessarily going to be police policing, it is going to be led by police.”

Overall, the number of substantiated crimes increased from 112 between April 2015 and March 2017 to 147 in the same period during 2016/17.

The number of theft crimes in Tetbury also doubled from 35 to 63.

Incidences of violence rose from 22 to 31, but the number of burglary and criminal damage incidents stayed roughly the same, and incidences of fraud decreased from 6 to 2.

Deputy mayor Kevin Painter pointed out that as the town’s last high street bank, Lloyds, closes, there would be a problem of potential crime. Town clerk Stephen Holley adding that shopkeepers may have more cash on premises for a longer period of time.