KENT'S chief constable Mike Fuller has warned the force is struggling to cope with the county’s increasing population due to an influx of immigrants.

Mr Fuller responded to reports in the national press at the weekend that a leaked letter from himself to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith showed he was concerned a “migrant surge” was impacting seriously on crime levels and that police resources were being stretched.

The letter reportedly stated that 78 per cent of the population growth in Kent was due to migration and that this had contributed to violent crimes rising by a third over five years.

However, the chief constable has since denied that his letter linked crime trends to increased migration and said the force’s record in reducing crime levels was good.

He said: “The data I presented to the Home Office did not and could not directly link crime trends to increased migration.

“Far from struggling to cope with increased crime, in the last year Kent Police has actually achieved a 10 per cent reduction in all crime, including violent crime.

“The number of criminals we have brought to justice is up by more than five per cent. At the same time, public confidence in the service we provide continues to rise.

He added: “The issue for us is not the impact of migration on crime levels, but the significant increase in workload and demand on our resources that increased population brings. A sizeable part of this increase stems from migration.

"My concern is that police funding has not kept up with this and my letter sought to present evidence to the Home Secretary of the pressures we face."

Mr Fuller cited the rising cost of interpretation and translation, for example, for migrants who have witnessed or been victims of crime. The cost of this service has increased by a third in three years.

He said: "Kent, with its unique gateway to Europe position, has for many years benefited from the flow of people to and from this country, who have made a significant contribution to, for example, our service industry and agricultural economy.

"Now, however, the sheer weight of numbers places pressures not just on policing, but on other public sector organisations such as local authorities and health.

“Increased demand includes the 17 per cent increase in lorries using our roads.

"These new pressures come with a price tag, which is why I felt the Home Secretary needed to be made aware of the challenges I face when our funding is calculated on population predictions that are based in part on unreliable migration forecasts."