THE surge in violent incidents in London could have knock-on effects in Dorset if Whitehall fails to increase police numbers, it has been claimed.

Dorset Police Federation Chairman Tony Tester says “visible patrolling” across the county has fallen by 37 per cent over the past decade due to Government funding cuts.

He told the Echo: “Everywhere has seen a rise in violent crime. I am not saying Dorset has the same issues as London. But if police officer numbers are nothing to do with it, why are we pumping 300 more officers onto the streets of the capital to solve it?

“Locally, I would say is this. Say I hadn’t been burgled for 40 years, do I just take my burglar alarm down and undo my locks? Because that is exactly what we are doing. Crime has fallen in the past, so police officers have been cut and cut. Now, suddenly, crime is going up.

“Can we take cuts? Absolutely. Can we take the amount we’ve taken? No. Have they gone too far? Yes, quite clearly they have.”

While Mr Tester acknowledges violent crime in the capital is a complex issue, he warns of a “knock-on effect” for forces further afield, including Dorset.

Bournemouth courts regularly deal with offenders with London addresses, who appear on charges relating to the possession and distribution of drugs. Civic leaders in London believe youth gang culture, and gang involvement in the street sale of illegal narcotics, is partly to blame for the spike in violent crime - particularly knife crime. Mr Tester said: “There will be a knock-on effect of what happens in London countrywide. If you are turning a street corner and you see uniformed police officers, that is a deterrent to carrying any form of offensive weapon. It is that simple.”

The Dorset Police Federation has also raised concerns about the effect that cuts have had on their ability to carry out proactive policing. Mr Tester says this area has seen “dramatic” reductions because of reduced police numbers.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd is facing criticism over police staffing levels, particularly in light of the significant increase in murders in London. Criticism mounted this week, after the Government published a major report - essentially a blueprint on how to tackle violent crime - without a single reference to officer numbers.

As of September there were 121,929 officers across the 43 territorial forces in England and Wales - a fall of nearly 20,000 compared to a decade earlier.

Dorset Police Federation says Dorset Police had 1,505 officers in 2007. Today they have 1,209, it added.

Mr Tester said: “We have had a 37 per cent reduction in the uniformed constables, who would have been in our police cars answering 999 calls or in our neighbourhood areas.

“This isn’t us saying Dorset Police is doing something wrong. The budgetary pressures are coming from just one place - Government.

“I really believe the Government simply doesn’t wanting to hear the truth that is out there.

“There would be a lot more respect given to politicians, if they said ‘you know what, we’ve gone too far, we need to bring things back a little bit.’”