Crime prevention budgets have been cut by more than a half since 2010, an analysis from Labour has revealed.

Between 2009/10 and 2017/18, spending on crime reduction by councils has been cut by almost 60%, falling from £363m to £154m.

Over the same period, the number of council employees working on crime reduction has fallen by more than a third, from 120,334 to just 77,720.

This is the result of ‘devastating cuts’ to local government funding, Labour argues.

Of the 20 local authorities with the largest cuts to crime reduction expenditure since 2009/10, Labour found that 15 are Conservative-controlled.

‘The Tories have slashed council budgets but demand they do more with less,’ said Diane Abbott, Labour’s shadow home secretary.

‘Taken together with years of police cuts, austerity is making our communities less safe.’

A MHCLG spokesperson said: 'Local authorities are democratically-elected, independent bodies that are responsible for setting their own budgets and managing their resources.

'We are investing in Britain’s future by providing local authorities with £91.5bn over the next two years to meet the needs of their residents.

'At Budget we announced more than £1bn in extra funding for local government to help address pressures on services.

'In recognition of substantial increases in pressures and the police having met efficiency milestones, we are extending the precept flexibility for Police and Crime Commissioners to £24. This increase has been balanced with extra grant to ensure forces are able to offer improved services whilst covering financial pressures.'