Chief Constable Brunstrom promises action

At a meeting on Friday, members of the North Wales Police Authority heard how vehicle crimes had risen by seven percent - despite a campaign to reduce the number of offences.

In response to the figures Chief Constable, Richard Brunstrom, promised to prepare a "full and detailed report".

He said the force had to get to grips with the problems and carry out a full analysis of the situation to see what needed to be done.

We've got more police now in north Wales than there have ever been, but there seems to be less than ever actually on the beat

Elfyn Williams, police authority member

However, he told the authority's performance review committee in Colwyn Bay that burglary rates were among the lowest in England and Wales.

Conwy County Councillor and member of the police authority, Elfyn Williams, said the way in which officers were deployed had to be addressed.

"We've got more police now in north Wales than there have ever been, but there seems to be less than ever actually on the beat," he said.

"I have people phoning me up saying there are so many police sitting on the A55 catching people speeding with their speed guns there are not enough on the streets."

North Wales Police

1,500 officers employed 1,200 beat constables 57 officers retiring in 2002 104 promised over three years Force covers six counties

Earlier this year plans to recruit more police officers in north Wales were given the green light.

In Feburary the police authority approved proposals to put extra bobbies on the beat, using council tax increases.

The move could see weekly taxes in the region rise by around 5p.

Eighteen extra officers are now due to join the 56 which were already set to enter the force in 2002 under a 22p weekly increase already approved by the Home Office.

The posts will complement that new injection of staff in a bid to ease pressure on the force's crime fighters.