A new police hub could be coming to Biggleswade as part of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s bid to tackle crime across the district.

Beds PCC Kathryn Holloway included in her Police and Crime Plan for Bedfordshire – which she launched this week – her aim of increasing the presence of the force in the community by introducing several police hubs across the district.

She said: “Clearly the main towns and areas of demand like Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Bedford and Leighton Buzzard all need hubs, and the north of the county needs one – potentially at Biggleswade or – with the agreement of the fire service, sharing in Shefford.

Mrs Holloway has highlighted the need to rebuild confidence in the force, which she believes has been eroded over funding arguments.

“The public heard nothing but problems over funding for the past few years and that Bedfordshire Police is overstretched,” she said.

“Sadly they came to believe the force couldn’t do the job properly.

“There’s no doubt Bedfordshire isn’t fully funded for the urban challenges it faces, but that doesn’t mean there are not areas of absolute excellence that I’m finding and that the public need to hear about.

“For example, Bedfordshire has gone from 41st in the country for improvements in tackling burglary to the number one.

“I’m the public’s voice on policing and my plan has to join these priorities to make sure that voice is heard. I need the public to know they have a force to be proud of.”

You can read the plan at www.bedfordshire.pcc.police.uk and respond to policeandcrime.commissioner@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk.