A COUNCIL is set to talk about policing in the town after complaints not enough is being done to stop crime.

Manningtree Town Council will discuss the issue at its next meeting on September 20.

It comes after Stour Sailing Club member Tim Goodwin hit out a lack of action.

He said: "No-one seems to take our plight seriously and the endless anti-social behaviour on the beach, extensive drug taking, and dangerous littering of glass on the sand and mud that injures young children is completely ignored."

Mr Goodwin was part of the first calls for a police presence at the fire station, which is now the first of it's kind in the county.

But he said using the station in Quay Street was meant to be followed by having police officers based there.

He added: "It was fully understood that initially no staff would be based there, although discussions working towards this were very much on-going.

"Several assurances were made to us that have sadly, not been fulfilled."

In a letter to Mr Goodwin, Inspector Darren Deex said: "We do not want our Police Officers to be sat in this station.

"We want our police officers to be out in their communities as much as possible.

"Having a drop in centre in Manningtree is about making it easier for police officers in the town and helping increase visibility because they will be popping in on their way or while they are in the town."

He added that 150 new officers are being recruited in Essex by March 2019 and there are ongoing campaigns for more special constables to join the force.

Manningtree Town Council has agreed to put policing on it's next council agenda.

A spokesman for the council said: "Manningtree Town Council did discuss a request to invite The Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst to one of their council meetings and it was decided to not do so at this current point in time.

"We did, however, have Les Hawkins, specials supported policing coordinator, attend our meeting in July to talk about the potential recruitment of special constables, possibly as a joint initiative between Manningtree, Lawford and Mistley parishes."

The next meeting will be at Foundry Court in Colchester Road a 7.30pm.