PCC says work to make police more visible ongoing

Matthew Barber won another four-year term following Thursday's election

The Thames Valley's re-elected police and crime commissioner (PCC) said plans to protect people, property and communities will continue apace.

Conservative Matthew Barber, first elected as PCC in 2021, saw his majority cut from nearly 80,000 to just over 2,300 following Thursday's election.

He said work will go on to cut shoplifting, prosecute sex offenders and make police more visible in communities.

It was the fourth time a Conservative PCC has been elected in the Thames Valley since 2012.

Mr Barber told BBC Radio Berkshire he had set out a "really clear plan" of his priorities during the election campaign, with a lot of that "continuing work that we have already done".

"We have seen figures over the last couple of months how Thames Valley Police has increased charges for rape and sexual offences. That needs to continue as a really important area," he said.

According to the force, 1,104 people were prosecuted for sexual offences in the region in the 12 months to 2023/24, up from 1,003 in 2021/22.

Mr Barber was deputy PCC to Anthony Stansfeld in the Thames Valley from 2017 prior to his election as PCC.

"We have got more police officers than we ever have had in the Thames Valley and we have put more of these officers in local policing but that is very much the start of the strategy for me," Mr Barber added.

"I want to make sure the police are more visible than they are now to build that confidence about policing in communities and make sure that we are able to proactively reduce crime rather than simply responding when things happen."

According to the force's figures, as of early March 2024, it employed 5,185 FTE police officers.

That figure is up by 14% from February 2020.