Two separate set of statistics have been published today that tell one simple story – the Tories’ cuts to policing do have consequences.

The results of the Office for National Statistics’ crime survey shows “largest annual rise in crimes recorded by the police in a decade.”

There were 458,021 more crimes recorded between April 2016 and March 2017 – a 10% rise on the previous year.

The biggest increase came in ‘violence against the person’ (+18%), theft (+7%) and public order offences (+39%).

Two sets of figures released today: UK crime at its highest in 10 years. UK police numbers at their lowest since 1985. pic.twitter.com/Ye9fgMOA2v — Alastair Reid (@ajreid) July 20, 2017

By coincidence the release coincided with the publication of Home Office statistics showing the number of police officers has fallen to its lowest level since 1985.

There were 123,142 officers in England and Wales in March 2017 – a 0.7% on the previous year.

Theresa May has insisted “it’s not just about the numbers of police” and told police officers who warned crime would rise that they were “crying wolf.”

Everything she says will be taken as evidence…