AN EXTRA 300 police officers will be needed in Avon and Somerset by 2021 to tackle increased rates of domestic violence, sexual abuse and child abuse.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary is predicting an “operational delivery gap” of £15M as the number of complex crimes is set to rise.

Police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens said the new officers could be funded if the national funding formula for police forces was changed to give Somerset its “fair share”.

The police and crime panel – which brings together the police force and all of the local authorities it covers – met in Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday (October 9) to discuss the issue.

The issue was flagged up within the police crime and needs assessment, which lays out “the most significant issues, risks and threats” to the Avon and Somerset area and set out the force’s priorities in response to these.

Karin Takel, the police and crime commissioner’s strategic planning and performance officer, highlighted the need for more officers to tackle complex crimes in her written report.

She said: “We predict there will be an increase in the future of recorded crimes of domestic abuse, sexual abuse and child abuse.

“Complex crimes are increasing and this rising complexity has an associated cost.

“Based on conservative estimates of time taken to resolve individual incidents, we have  estimated an operational delivery gap of a further £15M by 2020/21 in addition to that  described by our financial risk assessment.

“This equates to 300 additional police officers.”

Ms Takel cited female genital mutilation (FGM) as an example of the rise in complex crimes.

The number of recorded crimes connected to FGM rose from 20 in 2013/14 to 83 in 2016/17.

She added: “Police are required to prioritise a response based on threat, harm and risk.

“Capacity is stretched and the ability to respond effectively or in a timely way, meeting public expectations of service, is not consistently at the desired levels across the policing area.”

Ms Mountstevens said Avon and Somerset had not received a fair level of funding from central government in previous years.

She argued that a review of the national funding formula would allow more than 300 extra officers to be recruited.

She said: “If we had our fair share of funding, we would have an additional £18M per year. That would fund a further 350 police officers.

“The government is going to review it in 2019/20, and then maybe we will get our fair share.”