Sussex Police have hit back at claims that they are failing to introduce a Government plan to fight crime street-by-street.

Launching a new policing plan, the Conservatives leapt on new figures showing only five per cent of the county's officers are dedicated to the Home Office's "neighbourhood policing" strategy.

That figure falls far short of the proportion on the neighbourhood beat in many other forces.

But the force has dismissed the figures, claiming more than a third of officers are working in the community.

Deputy Chief Constable Geoff Williams said: "We have worked hard to establish and develop neighbourhood policing in Sussex, which has been widely recognised."

Forces were urged to introduce neighbourhood policing in November 2004, in a police reform white paper launched by former Home Secretary David Blunkett.

The Tories said forces with less than ten per cent of officers in neighbourhood roles could not claim a true "commitment"

to policing their communities.

Shadow home secretary David Davis said only the Metropolitan Police, in London, had set up neighbourhood teams of one sergeant, two constables and three support officers in every local authority ward.

The figures used by the Tories come from an analysis published by the Association of Chief Police Officers in December. It showed 43 Sussex sergeants and 119 constables dedicated to the role, out of a force strength of 3,086, which is just 5.2 per cent.

Sussex Police said in the past 12 months they had added 53 Neighbourhood Specialist Teams (NSTs), dedicated to local communities, to their 43 Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs).

A spokeswoman for the force said: "Police officers, excluding PCSOs, working in the community represent 34.4 per cent of officers in the force.

"Earlier this year, Sussex Police introduced a website so people would know the name of their local officers, how to contact them and learn what they are doing to tackle local issues."

Do you think there are enough police in the community? Let us know, leave your comments below.