VOLUNTEER police officers are set to take to the streets of Maldon after councillors agreed to help fund them.

At a meeting on Monday, Maldon Town Council agreed to stump up some cash to fund three special constables through an Essex Police scheme.

It will see the town council fund the expenses of any officers – estimated to be around £1,000 per special per year.

The councillors were given a presentation by Essex Police’s specials co-ordinator Les Hawkins.

Mr Hawkins said: “The requirement from special constables is that they work 16 hours a month on average.

“The officers themselves will be based at the district council offices and the community policing sergeant will be doing the tasking of the officers, not councillors.

“We won’t see councillors tasking the officers, but the officers will attend council meetings to feedback on their progress.”

In the event of any specials paid for by the council being diverted to major incidents in another part of Essex, the billing would be suspended.

Councillor Mark Heard, who organised the meeting and was in favour of the scheme, said: “If we had just three officers, it would give us resilience.

“We have an opportunity here to try it. If it doesn’t work then we’ll know but let’s give it a try.”

But fellow councillor Stephen Nunn, who was opposed to the idea, said he did not believe the council should have to pay to get bobbies on the beat.

He said: “Policing is not at an acceptable level in this town.

“Why don’t the police get their act together instead of us paying this double taxation through the back door?

“Not only should we not pay this, but I think that we should write to the police and crime commissioner and ask what they are doing to improve the policing in this town.”

Despite some opposition the scheme was voted through by five votes to three.

After the decision, Mr Heard said: “The people of Maldon want to see police on the beat and I’ll do everything I can to help.”