Labour have attacked the Tories’ failure to keep local communities safe, as shocking new analysis shows huge reductions in staffing for neighbourhood policing in the North West.

The number of PCSOs across the region has collapsed by 47% since 2010.

The most recent crime statistics show a 48% increase in reported robbery since 2015 and 99% increase in knife crime in the North West.

Labour has pledged to bring back neighbourhood policing by putting 13,000 more neighbourhood police on Britain’s streets, including recruiting at least 10,000 more officers, PCSOs and specials.

Labour’s plans are the equivalent of giving every constituency in England and Wales 15-20 extra neighbourhood police - formed of officers, PCSOs, and Specials.

Across the country, the number of PCSOs has halved since the Conservatives came to power in 2010. In the same period, the proportion of people saying they never see a police officer on the beat has doubled.