Oxford police have denied claims by MP Evan Harris that police numbers are falling in the city.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon was speaking after a meeting with senior police officers in Oxfordshire to discuss crime issues.
Dr Harris met Oxford police area commander Supt David McWhirter and his colleagues to talk about the main issues they face in the fight against crime.
Dr Harris said: "As police numbers fall, as they have in Oxfordshire due to officers moving to other police areas and natural wastage, they are not being replaced by new officers.
"Oxfordshire is an expensive place in which to live and work. This needs to be taken into account by the Government - indeed for all key public service workers, not just police officers."
But Supt Keith Ringsell, of Oxford Police, denied police numbers in the city were falling. He said: "The Oxford police area is up to establishment.
"As officers leave they are being replaced but they are tending to be replaced by new officers, who take some time to come up to operational capacity."
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