Husband criticises Nottingham police chief

The husband of the murdered jeweller Marian Bates has said the head of Nottinghamshire Police is a "menace to law and order".

The husband of the murdered jeweller Marian Bates has said the head of Nottinghamshire Police is a "menace to law and order".

Victor Bates claimed yesterday that Chief Constable Steve Green had allowed criminals to flourish after replacing patrolling police officers with community wardens. Mr Green recently sparked a political storm by blaming a lack of resources for the force's apparent failure to cope with soaring levels of violent crime in the city.

"Nottingham has never been as lawless as it has been under this chief constable," said Mr Bates. "He is a menace to law and order. The way that the criminals in Nottingham have been allowed to flourish under his regime is ridiculous. It is frightening.

"There are fewer police officers on the streets. There are community wardens who have no power on the streets. It must have cost the lives of more than 15 people over the past two years, including my wife."