A FORMER Hampshire police representative has criticised proposals to reduce the number of people going to prison for short sentences, amid an ongoing spate of high-profile knife attacks.

John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says that crimes "need to have a consequence".

Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Mr Apter, who was formerly the chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation, said: "Despite the rhetoric you hear from politicians about being tough on those who carry knives, two thirds of those who are convicted don't face prison.

"We have a justice secretary who is saying we need to scrap shorter sentences because the prisons are full. My argument is build more prisons. We need to have a consequence."

He added: "We need better engagement with young people in this country. That's at the youth groups, the education system, the social services and so on. It's a multi-functional approach that we need. It's not just the police. But some people will need punishment."

Speaking on LBC, Britain's most senior police officer Cressida Dick said: "If you went back in history you would see examples of when police officer numbers have gone down and crime has not necessarily risen at the same rate and in the same way.

"But I think that what we all agree on is that in the last few years police officer numbers have gone down a lot, there's been a lot of other cuts in public services, there has been more demand for policing and therefore there must be something and I have consistently said that.

"I agree that there is some link between violent crime on the streets obviously and police numbers, of course there is and everybody would see that."

The Met is currently trying to recruit 3,000 officers, 1,500 of which are new posts. This will still leave the force below the numbers it had in 2013/14.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner agreed that middle-class drug users have "blood on their hands" over the deaths on the streets.

Asked by host Nick Ferrari if she agreed with the statement, Ms Dick said: "I think anybody who is not seriously mentally ill, seriously addicted, who is seeking "recreational" drugs, particularly class A drugs, yes, I think that is a good way to put it, I do."

Reacting to Cressida Dick's comments on LBC stating there is a link between decreased police numbers and rising violent crime, Chuka Umunna of The Independent Group tweeted: "It is absurd for the Prime Minister to suggest that having more police will not help reduce the violence on the streets.

"She insults people's intelligence with this nonsense."

Prime Minister Theresa May has asked the Home Office urgently to coordinate a series of ministerial meetings and engagements on knife crime.

Mrs May told Cabinet she wanted the meetings to accelerate the work central government is doing in support of local authorities and police.

The Prime Minister told Cabinet that last week's knife murders of Jodie Chesney and Yousef Makki were "absolutely appalling crimes", adding that her thoughts and sympathies were with the teenagers' families and friends, said her official spokesman.