POLICING in parts of South Buckinghamshire, which boasts communities with the highest proportion of millionaires in the country, is the worst in the UK, a study has revealed.

Property crime rate for wealthy residents in leafy Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield is the worst in Britain according to the Crime List, published this week.

The shock report, the first league table of police performance in England and Wales, has revealed the astonishing figures which show that residents in South Bucks are more likely to be burgled or have their car stolen than elsewhere.

Thames Valley Police has been slammed for failing communities such as Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield while the borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, one of Britain's most deprived areas, came top in the list.

Buckinghamshire county councillor Margaret Dewar (Con, Beaconsfield) is also the cabinet member for community services which includes community safety. She said she is appalled at policing levels in South Bucks and the cuts which the force has faced over the last few years.

She added: "The crime figures do not surprise me at all. We've been promised more bobbies on the beat but it's a total joke. They do not understand the dreadful effect it is having on people's lives."

The study was carried out by academics at Leeds University and commissioned by Channel 4. It has resulted in the first league table of police performance in 375 local authority areas in England and Wales.

A Channel 4 spokesman said: "The statistics show they [the police] have an appalling record in protecting residents.

"Theft from vehicles in this area is nearly three times the national average and domestic burglary rates are in the worst 20 per cent of the country."

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said the statistics used were "crude" and that although the area had high burglary and car theft it had low levels of violent crimes.

In a statement the spokesman said: "We remain committed to driving crime rates down. We are working closely with our partners and the public and are working in Slough and High Wycombe to target many of the travelling criminals. We have also been working together to deal with truancy and divert young people who are at risk of becoming future offenders."