Peter Bleksley has launched a scathing attack on Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber for telling the public to "stop criminals themselves", branding it "utter nonsense".

Speaking to GB News, the former Scotland Yard Detective hit out at the remarks and declared Barber is an "absolute fool".

Speaking at the Thames Valley police and crime panel in June, Barber stated: "If you've got someone in your store stealing from you, call 999. Also, ideally try and stop them leaving, don't just stand there and watch, which a lot of people do, which frustrates me.

"They push through the barrier at tube station that staff are doing nothing, I agree, that's terrible. But you're the idiot standing there with the mobile phone. You're not doing anything either, are you?"

Peter Bleksley hit out at Matthew Barber's remarks, calling on the public to 'take matters into their own hands'

Hitting out at the remarks, Bleksley fumed: "That's a Police and Crime Commissioner, not a police officer. An elected Tory who represents Thames Valley, and quite frankly, an idiot, an absolute oath, a fool.

"Because in the week that an alleged shoplifter died after being tackled by a member of the public, he comes out with this kind of drivel."

Taking aim at the "utter nonsense" claims of Barber, Bleksley added: "Of course, if you are extremely physically fit, you are trained in self-defence and you are trained to a Government level in restraint techniques, then maybe you'll get involved when there's a crime.

"But to suggest that the shoplifting epidemic is all our fault, what should we have? A new national pastime Saturday afternoon, got a couple of hours to spare, pop down at Tesco's, catch yourself a shoplifter. What utter nonsense."

Barber claimed it 'frustrates him' that the public 'don't take matters into their own hands' when it comes to shoplifting

Criticising Barber further, Bleksley highlighted the danger of shoplifters "carrying knives", posing a bigger threat to the public.

He stated: "If you're fortunate enough not to have eight inches of stainless steel embedded into you by some rampant murderous shoplifter who could pull a blade, it's a ridiculous, irresponsible, pathetic kind of set of instructions to issue.

"If you tick those boxes, you're a Royal Marine, you're trained in restraint techniques, you're incredibly fit, and you know how to defend yourself and you want to get involved, then do that. But for general members of the public who actually he called idiots because they film these people committing crimes."

Defending the public for filming crimes on their phones, Bleksley pointed out that they are helping to "gather evidence" instead of being "idiots".

Bleksley told GB News that the remarks are 'absolute drivel'

He told GB News: "If you film these people committing crimes, you're not an idiot. If you film someone committing a crime, you're gathering evidence, you're helping the police, you're doing the right thing."

Citing the recent case of the public intervening to stop a man exposing himself on the train, Bleksley cautioned: "Those disgusting scenes that we saw on the train, those young men that intervened, fair play to them. They got that man restrained and off that train.

"And of course, he was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act, clearly a very, very ill person behaving disgustingly that situation, but please everybody, be aware of the dangers that our streets carry in 2025.

"That's a police and crime commissioner from Thames Valley, who I suspect has never rolled around the pavement with a shoplifter, a burglar or a robber. He doesn't know what he's talking about. In this day and age of some lazy policing, if you were to injure someone, a shoplifter, you can guarantee there'd be an investigation into your behaviour."

In a statement, PCC Matthew Barber said: "I believe in social responsibility and in people being engaged in their communities to help keep them safe. People should not turn a blind eye to crime and post about it on social media instead of reporting and assisting the police with information and evidence.

"I have made tackling shoplifting a priority for Thames Valley Police and that has resulted in more criminals being charged, more patrols being visible, easier sharing of evidence from stores, more support for retailers and a focus on the most prolific offenders.

"As I said in my original comments in June, I am not expecting everyone to be rugby tackling criminals to the ground. I am also not expecting people to put themselves in harm’s way, but this is about being aware and as a minimum reporting shoplifting to the police.

"I encourage retailers, shop workers and the shoppers to report crime so the police can act. It’s their job to investigate and fight crime, including shoplifting. But we can all play a part in building a safer community – at the very least reporting crime we see, rather than accepting it."