UK police report every incident on Twitter for a day

''Policing is often seen in very simple terms, with cops chasing robbers and locking them up,'' he said.

''However, the reality is that this accounts for only part of the work they have to deal with.

''A lot of what we do is dealing with social problems such as missing children, people with mental health problems and domestic abuse. Often these incidents can be incredibly complex and need a lot of time, resource and expertise.

''I am not saying that we shouldn't deal with these types of incidents, far from it, but what I am saying is that this work is not recognised in league tables and measurements - yet is a huge part of what we do.''

The event comes as police face unprecedented budget cuts, with the Government's impending comprehensive spending review next week.