ESSEX’S crime commissioner admitted he was “uncomfortable” it has taken time to produce bobbies on the beat after raising council tax.

Police, fire and crime commissioner Roger Hirst held a public meeting at Maldon Town Hall last week where he was quizzed by residents.

More than 35 people turned out to have their say.

Many were concerned about plans to increase the police’s council tax contribution by 2 per cent to gather more resources for the coming financial year.

After the meeting, Mr Hirst said: “Clearly no-one’s carrying me shoulder high around the room.

“There is the legitimate reluctance to see money spent without the confidence in it bearing results.

“I am myself uncomfortable that we raised the council tax on April 1 and it has taken us until now to produce results.

“You have to train people. You can’t just ram raid another force and get people here, it doesn’t work that way.

“If I were a member of the public, without my level of transparency I would be asking ‘What is going on? You’ve raised it by £12 and I haven’t seen the results and now you’re going to raise it to £24 – prove it.’

“We will have to prove it so that what we see will be happening.

“I think our plans are good plans and in six months, you should start to see that material difference.

“But I do understand the feeling of the room.”

Assurances were made at the meeting including the provision of three community policing teams by April and the return of community police officer talks at Plume Academy.

The community safety partnership will also request funding by the end of this month for the installation of new high definition CCTV cameras in the town at points in Promenade Park, the high street and West Maldon Community Centre.

District councillor Mark Heard said residents still want to see more police on the streets.

He said: “Personally, I was disappointed as there were more pressing questions to be asked. I don’t think residents were there to praise him. Their concern was about visibility.

“I am pleased that he came down, but he needs to be pressed to produce results.

“The council have appreciated his time but the bottom line is we want to see police on the beat.”