THE Princes Risborough area could receive an extra three officers, a police inspector revealed.

Insp Andy Kitchen, the Wycombe rural sector commander, told a meeting of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton Parish Council on July 5 that the Risborough sector had 102 officers.

He said the numbers were more than a fair share, but he was trying to get more officers for the area.

He said: "One scenario would be to get an extra three officers to make six officers for Risborough."

Insp Kitchen added: "I'll try and get something for this sector."

But he said that there was a problem recruiting officers because of the high cost of living.

Insp Kitchen was asked to come to the council meeting after a number of burglaries of industrial premises in the Bledlow area.

But Insp Kitchen said statistics showed that crime in the Bledlow-cum-Saunderton area had actually fallen and tried to calm fears about a lack of a police presence in the area.

He said: "One of the biggest problems living in a rural area is the fear of crime. I hope to put across what the reality is. Year on year, in Saunderton and Bledlow, violent crime has reduced by 77.8 per cent."

Insp Kitchen added: "For the burglary of dwellings, where there is a greater fear of crime, there was a reduction last year of 8.7 per cent."

He said the reduction was due to a greater emphasis on following known trouble-makers who were responsible for the vast majority of crimes.

Insp Kitchen said: "You're living in area where crime is reducing."