There are calls for more police on the streets of Marlow following knife and gun attacks in separate incidents in and around the town.

Cllr Suzanne Brown compared Marlow to New York after armed robbers targeted two newsagents – Marlow News, in in Newtown Road, and the One Stop Shop in Marlow Bottom Road, Marlow Bottom – in separate raids this year.

Speaking at a meeting of Wycombe District Council’s improvement and review commission, Cllr Suzanne Brown said she wanted to see more police patrolling Marlow’s streets to help residents feel safer.

She said: “It’s not just anti-social behaviour and I don’t think it should just be anti-social behaviour. It’s not having enough police on the streets.

“In Marlow we’ve had a huge increase in robberies and burglaries and it’s not people that are drunk sitting in a corner causing the anti-social behaviour.

“Having police just about to go up to and talk to is what we’re missing. We used to have them, we don’t have them anymore.

“I’m sure it’s the same everywhere, it’s not just Marlow.

“I thought that our policing task and finish group was actually being set up to try and encourage more policing on the streets. We do need more policing on the streets.

“We’ve also recently had a knife crime, a gun crime – we’ve never had this in Marlow. It’s becoming like New York.

“So it’s more than anti-social behaviour. I know that’s a bit strong.

“I hope we can have more police on the streets.”

But Marlow mayor Jocelyn Towns said she thinks Marlow is generally a very safe place to live, work and visit.

She said: “I do understand that there have been a few incidents recently of robberies in and around the town, including Marlow Bottom, but these are isolated. 

“The police in Marlow support our community well, but additional resource is always welcome.”