Robberies and violent crime in Marlow and the surrounding areas are up 22 per cent from the previous year.

The town’s top police officer, sergeant Robin Hughes, said a big cause for this was the World Cup over the summer.

Speaking at the South West Chilterns and Marlow Local Area Forum (LAF) this week, he said: “There was a lot of alcohol involved, a lot of stuff happening particularly in Marlow, and that had a big impact on violent crime unfortunately.

“The other issue we’ve had to deal with is a series of robberies over the summer, which have now all been dealt with.

“The offenders are now all tagged or on curfew and that series has now stopped but that has affected our figures.”

However, burglaries were down by 17 per cent year-on-year in the areas covered by the LAF, which include Marlow, Marlow Bottom, Great Marlow, Hambleden, Medmenham and Stokenchurch, among others.

He said as a result, there will now be a police presence in Marlow on Friday and Saturday night between 10pm and 2am.

He added that this would have a “big impact” on violent crime.