Residents pay for crime fighters

Wardens will tackle vandalism at beach huts and shelters

A team of community wardens funded by residents will soon be helping to fight crime and anti-social behaviour in an Essex town.

The cost of providing the extra security will be met by the people of Frinton who have voted to implement the scheme.

The additional crime-fighting force, which will cost each household about 20p a week, will be formed by six wardens who will help police tackle petty crime and nuisance behaviour.

The idea came from Frinton and Walton town councillor Terry Allen who said the extra policing would make people in the seaside town feel more secure.

Feeling of 'well-being'

"It's not a big fuss about nothing," he said.

"Although there may not be attacks in Frinton there is a fear of crime and it's the fear of crime which stops people going about their normal business.

"If we can get rid of that fear and bring back a feeling of well-being then we will have achieved what we are after."

Len Brooks, a resident of Frinton, said people were keen to see the petty crime removed from the town's streets.

"We're not happy about all the dog fouling about the vandalism, about beach huts being smashed, about shelters being smashed - these are all foreign things to us," he said.