The local police and crime commissioner has come under fire over funding reductions that could hamper the mission to tackle violent crime in Reading.

At a recent meeting, a strategy for improving community safety and stopping serious violent crime was revealed.

The strategy, called the Community Safety and Serious Violence Strategy 2023-2026 was presented to councillors who approved its publication.

But some councillors decided to take a swipe at the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Matthew Barber for funding reductions impacting on policing in the town.

Voicing her concerns, councillor Ellie Emberson (Labour, Coley) said: “I’ve been a councillor for four years but I’m still surprised every time I go to a safe neighbourhood forum and there’s no police because there’s no one on shift or they’re called somewhere else, because there is not enough of them.

“There’s times when there are three of them on the neighbourhood team covering Coley and Katesgrove, and that’s not acceptable.

“We all wish the police had the proper resource but we all know in reality they don’t.”

READ MORE: When Thames Valley Police could relocate to new station in Reading as work restarts

Meanwhile, cllr Sarah Hacker (Labour, Battle) said: “I became a councillor in 2010, and we just have to look at the national government that came in at that point and see the consequences of cuts to budgets.

“It can’t carry on like this can it? I think that’s where we need to place the blame firmly, it’s not with the police, it’s not with the council, it’s firmly with the national government. They’ve had 12 years and they are failing.”

The community safety and serious violence strategy has been drawn up by Reading’s Community Safety Partnership.

Although Mr Barber the Conservative PCC for Thames Valley was not named in person, councillors voiced frustration at the decline in investment from the PCC’s Community Safety Fund to Reading between 2022 and 2025.

The Reading community safety partnership previously received approximately £453,128 of funding per year, which is expected to drop to £213,977 by 2025.

The partnership received £373,411 for the 2022/23 financial year.

The strategy was presented by Jo Middlemass, community partnerships manager, with Superintendent Steve Raffield, the Local Policing Area commander for Reading fielding questions.

Supt Raffield admitted communications with the public could be improved.

The strategy was devised after a public consultation held between July and September 2022 in an online survey.

Seven priorities have been identified:

  1. Reduce crime in the top crimegenerating neighbourhoods.
  2. Improve the way the Community Safety Partnership works with communities to tackle anti-social behaviour and hate crime.
  3. Reduce community-based drug related activity.
  4. Reduce knife violence, including the carrying of blades and their use in crime.
  5. Tackle organised crime gangs transporting illegal drugs across Reading’s borders, known as ‘county lines’ offending.
  6. Improve safety for women in public places and reduce sexually focused crimes and anti-social behaviour.
  7. Develop a strategy and plan to reduce persistent offending

Councillors unanimously voted to adopt the strategy at the housing, neighbourhoods and leisure committee on January 4.

Mr Barber is due to present at an upcoming policy committee meeting.

Cllr Emberson said councillors will “give it to him” with their criticisms at the meeting.