Northamptonshire chief constable faces rising violence and falling budgets

Northamptonshire's new chief constable has admitted he will have to fight violent crime with a falling budget.

Simon Edens said his objective was to make the county England's safest place but violent incidents rose in the past 12 months from 7,000 to nearly 11,000.

"I don't want people to be afraid walking down the street or in the security of their own homes," he said.

He said he aimed to collaborate with other public services to provide value for money and deal with cuts.

"One pound spent on policing means one less for health, education or roads," Mr Edens, who began his career in Northern Ireland, said.

"I feel it's a responsibility to deliver value for the public money we're entrusted with. And dealing with domestic violence or violence on the street is important to us."

He said the special constabulary had a role to play in this and denied it was policing on the cheap.

"The special constabulary has a standing and tradition longer than organised policing has been in place in this country. It has a long established legacy of people who stand forward and say they want to help.

"We are finding volunteers who want to spend some of their own time, energy and skill helping police our communities.

"That's brilliant and I would never turn an offer like that down," he said.