COLCHESTER’S MP Will Quince was rebuffed in his attempt to “get stuck in” by personally cleaning up the town as a volunteer police officer.

Mr Quince tried to sign up as a Special Constable to do his bit in helping Essex Police tackle crime in Colchester.

But he was turned down and told MPs are ineligible for the role under police rules.

He said: “I tried to sign up and get stuck in at the end of last year.

“I kept pursuing it and was told it is a decision for the Chief Constable.

“I wanted to make a point of showing what we can do to help and I wanted to help in any way I can.

“I don’t think they liked the idea of a politician joining.”

Mr Quince is calling for a unified response to tackle a “spate of criminality” in Colchester town centre.

In letters to Colchester Council’s leadership, Essex Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh and Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst, the MP says residents have “had enough”.

He said: “Over the past few weeks, visible criminality in the town centre has risen sharply, with several high-profile shop vandalism cases and assaults.

“Aggressive begging and drug dealing is rife and happening in our High Street for all to see.”

Under the current Conservative and previous Tory/Lib Dem coalition governments, the number of police officers has fallen by between 19,000 and 22,000.

Mr Quince said there have been no further police cuts since 2015 and pointed out funding is in place for 150 new officers in Essex.

He said: “Colchester will see a share of these extra officers.

“I am pleased to hear about plans for a specific Colchester town team, which will be supported by PCSOs funded by Colchester Council.

“I am heartened by his clear determination to deal with the criminality facing our town centre.”

Mr Quince called for the council and Essex Police to work with him on tackling the problem.

He added: “I relayed that to Shaun Kane, Colchester’s district commander, and said things have got out of hand and enough is enough.

“We need the police and the council to work together, closely, to combat this.

“I want to help in any way I can.”