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Police forces are buckling with more than 21,000 bobbies axed since the Tories came to power in 2010.

Officers have been cut by 14.9 per cent in England and Wales, yet the Sunday People understands that crime rose by nine per cent last year – and violent offences were up by nearly a fifth.

The Greater Manchester force has been slashed most, with its Chief Constable Ian Hopkins warning it is under “real strain” probing last month’s pop concert suicide bomb attack.

Between 2009 and last year, 2,022 roles were cut there – nearly a quarter of the 8,261 at the start of the period.

(Image: Getty)

Next worst-hit force is the West Midlands, with 1,605 officers lost, followed by the Met Police in London, where 1,592 bobbies have gone.

Victim Support said people are being put off reporting crimes to depleted forces, adding that almost half of victims were unhappy with police investigators.

Lancashire Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said cuts have gone too far, leaving Britain exposed to terror. He said: “As a reflection on the atrocious acts in the UK in the last three months. I think the scale and pace of the cuts has been too severe, too deep.”