Police BUDGET cuts across the Thames Valley have resulted in less perpetrators being brought to justice, according to figures from the campaign group Accountable.

The UK campaign group which aims to hold the government to account have released a report outlining how police cuts have had a direct link with criminals being put away for crimes.

Since 2010, the force has seen a decrease of 15 per cent which means there are just 17 police officers for ever 10,000 people living in the Thames Valley.

From this period, there has been a concerning increase in sexual offences which have gone up by an 'alarming' 117 per cent.

Emily Darlington, campaign director at Accountable said: "This year could see a free-for-all for criminals thanks to cuts to police forces across the country.

"Criminals now know that their chances of getting caught have been drastically reduced."

Across the UK, the number of crimes that result in a criminal being charged or simply summoned to court has been halved between 2010 and 2018.

Before police cuts, 1 in 5 robberies went to court summons but in 2018, only two robbery suspects out of every 25 were either summoned to court or charged.

Emily added: "Cuts to police have been far too deep and need to be reversed in this year's spending review or we risk fuelling further crime waves by simply not having the police we need to catch criminals and fight crime.

"The governments duty to protect its citizens from crime. They are failing to catch and prosecute criminals because there are not enough police on our streets."

The report from the campaign watchdog outlines that overall levels of crime has increased by 19 per cent since police cuts were first implemented. The largest of this figure resulting in violent crimes and sexual offences.

Violence against a person has risen by 69 per cent since 2010 and sexual offences has gone up by 183 per cent.

To report a crime to Thames Valley Police, call 101 or visit: https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/how-to-report-a-crime/