February 8, 2001 9:25: CAR thieves in Beaconsfield could come face to face with a mounted officer as police plan to draft in horses to help fight vehicle crime.

Sergeant Gerry Lister of Beaconsfield police revealed the plans earlier this week.

The move is part of the police response to stinging criticism levelled at them in a recent report by academics, which branded them the worst in the country.

He said: "The idea of having police on horseback in the town is so that we are visible on the streets and this will hopefully put criminals off coming back to the area as they see it as a soft crime spot."

He added that because many surrounding towns had CCTV, criminals were travelling to Beaconsfield because they saw it as an easier target.

However, he also said that the higher profile policing would mean that residents would be subject to the the law if they chose to disobey it.

He explained: "We can't just walk past if someone is illegally parking or something like that but we have had it thrown back in our faces with people saying 'why aren't you out catching the real criminals like burglars and rapists?'"

Another part of the police strategy to tackle car crime in the town is the message not to leave valuables such as laptops and mobile phones on view in vehicles.

Nuala Orton, sector co-ordinator for Beaconsfield Neighbourhood watch welcomed the news.

She said: "This is great. High profile policing can work wonders.

"But people also have to realise that the police cannot ignore parking issues and other petty crime, even if they are out looking for burglars.

"You cannot have officers out on the beat turning a blind eye to petty crime."

Matthew Harris