A ROW has broken out between councillors about how to take the fight to criminals in Swindon.

Recorded crime in Wiltshire rose by 8.8 per cent in 2016 and figures released in recent weeks show that increase has continued into 2017 with a further jump of 10 per cent. Some offences, such as burglary and violent assaults, have risen by 46 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

Last month, a motion calling on Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson to ensure Swindon “receives its fair share of policing” secured the unanimous support of Conservative councillors.

Labour criticised its focus, arguing that the problem lay not at Police HQ in Devizes but in Whitehall where the force’s funding was set.

Responding to the motion, Angus Macpherson has issued figures showing that Swindon gets 1.18 officers per 1,000 residents, compared to just 0.86 for the rest of the county.

Issuing his own challenge to councillors, he wrote: “May I expect your help in arguing for a greater share of the national resource, a real terms protection for police budgets, and flexibility in selling the local police precept?”

In response to the exchange, Labour’s Chris Watts has called for party allegiances to be put aside in a call for more funding from central government.

“I wholeheartedly support Angus in asking the council leader to join him in calling for extra government investment in the police,” said Coun Watts.

“The PCC has demonstrated that Swindon is getting more police officers per head of population compared to Wiltshire. The problem is that the overall funding for Wiltshire Police is being dramatically cutback.

“I think it would send a powerful message to the government, if Swindon’s political parties unite behind our police commissioner in calling for extra government investment in our police.

“Let’s stop the misleading statements like Wiltshire’s getting more than Swindon, and send a strong message to the government that they need to increase police funding.”

But calls for Conservative councillors to issue that challenge to the Conservative government in Westminster have been firmly rebuffed and dismissed as a political stunt by Labour.

Deputy council leader, Russell Holland, accused Labour of failing to consider where additional funds would realistically come from.

“I would like to thank the PCC for providing a full and detailed response to the request from the council,” said Coun Holland.

“People across Wiltshire made the right decision electing a Conservative PCC and it is great to know that he has even gained the wholehearted support of Labour councillors.

“Just like the Labour Party nationally, Swindon Labour seem to think that any problem in life can just be solved by asking the government to spend more money.

“Where do Labour think that money will come from? The answer is borrowing. We must never forget that it is Labour’s toxic legacy of debt which now means as a country we spend more money on debt interest than we do on public order and safety. Let’s just let that sink in.

“For 2017/18, official figures show we spent £48bn on debt interest (just the interest) compared to £34bn on public order and safety.

“When it comes to tuition fees, policing, or anything else, Labour will promise anything without ever explaining how it will be paid for.”