HARWICH is welcoming a new community policing team to give residents extra support this spring.

The team will be comprised of a sergeant, three constables and two PCSOs based out of the police station in Main Road, Dovercourt, from April.

It will join the existing local policing team which is responsible for responding to all emergency and priority incidents in the area.

One of the PCSOs will be completely funded for two years by both Tendring Council and Harwich Council, and will be solely dedicated to the Harwich area.

Officers involved in the new team currently work in the district and some have already been working in the Harwich area on the local policing team.

Inspector Darren Deex, of the Tendring Community Policing Team, said: “I’m really proud that we can now offer this additional support to people who live and work in Harwich and the surrounding areas.

“Our officers and PCSOs will engage with communities between Harwich and Manningtree and I want them to be as visible and proactive as possible.

“We want to hear your concerns and work for you to tackle crime, whether that’s anti-social behaviour that’s impacting residents and tourists, or crimes against our businesses, which play a crucial part in our local communities.”

Charlie Powell, Harwich mayor, said: “Harwich Council is aware that local crime levels are a major priority for local residents. “Increasing the size of the Harwich-based police team will help combat this and the team has our total support.”

Lynda McWilliams, of the Tendring Community Safety Partnership, said the new policing team for Harwich was great news for the community.

Mrs McWilliams said: “Harwich is a growing area, and we hope to see over the next two years in particular a growth in visitors to the area as part of the Mayflower 400 celebrations, so now is the ideal time to boost the police presence in that community.

“We work closely with the Tendring Community Policing Team, such as with our summer policing operation in Clacton and on other initiatives, to help to keep people around the district feeling safe.

“I am confident that this team will have every success in achieving that.”

You can email the policing team on TendringCPT@essex.pnn.police.uk or report crimes by calling 101.