Victor Bates said criminals have "flourished" in Nottingham

Victor Bates was speaking after Peter Williams, 19, of no fixed address, was jailed for murdering his wife at the family shop in September 2003.

Mr Bates said criminals had flourished in Nottingham during the time of Chief Constable Steve Green.

But Assistant Chief Constable Peter Ditchett said the force had one of the country's best murder detection rates.

Mr Green was recently in the news after saying his Notts force was struggling to cope with the number of murders.

Williams was convicted of murder at Stafford Crown Court on Monday but the court heard he was not the man who pulled the trigger at the Time Centre in Arnold, Notts.

'Less police'

The gunman, thought to be James Brodie, has never been found.

Mr Bates, speaking after Williams was found guilty, urged officers to hunt Brodie down despite police claims he may have been murdered shortly after the shooting.

"Nottingham has never been as lawless as it has been under this chief constable. He is a menace to law and order," he said.

The chief constable says his force is struggling to cope

"We don't want a response to crime, we want a battling down on crime. The way that the criminals in Nottingham have been allowed to flourish under his regime is ridiculous. It is frightening.

"There are less police officers on the streets. There are community wardens who have no power on the streets.

"It must have cost the lives in Nottingham of over 15 people over the last two years, including my wife.

"The criminals have been encouraged by the system that prevails. Crime now is a lively occupation because the chances of being caught are so little."

Leading with 'integrity'

ACC Ditchett defended Mr Green, saying that Nottinghamshire Police had one of the highest murder detection rates in the country and 16,000 fewer victims of crime in the past year.

He said: "I am sorry that Victor Bates feels that way and I suppose my first comment would be to say that none of us can understand the unimaginable burden of grief that he and his family are having to suffer over the tragic death of Marian.

Marian Bates died in an armed robbery at the shop

"This is not about mismanagement and poor leadership from the chief constable.

"I don't think any chief in the recent history of Nottinghamshire Police has done more than the current chief constable to dismantle organised crime networks.

"This is a man with considerable integrity, considerable ability, who is leading a force with a tradition of significant operational challenges."

In a recent interview, Mr Green said he had considered farming out murder investigations to other forces because his staff could not cope.

His comments sparked criticism from a number of Nottinghamshire MPs and the Home Office has set up an inquiry into how the Nottinghamshire force deals with serious crime.

An open meeting is being held on Tuesday where Mr Green will be questioned by the body that appoints him, the Nottinghamshire Police Authority.