Maldon residents do a double take when they see their community policing team - for PCs Judy Atkinson and Wendy Brown are twins.

Wendy has taken over the Langford, Ulting, Heybridge and Woodham Walter area and Judy covers Maldon town.

The twins say a few comments have been made and for one motorist there was confusion when they were carrying out roadside spotchecks and stopped the same motorist who said "you've already stopped me!".

The sisters are joined in the community team by PCs Joanna Hawtin, Graham Ferris and Dave Harrop.

Other Essex police divisions are adapting to community policing teams, but in Maldon the team has been operating for 18 months and despite some concerns at missing "a village bobby" Sgt Jane Glassfield said it was been working well.

She said it means if there is a community problem all members of the team can help out.

But she added: "For community purposes and liaison several parishes have an officer on the team they can identify with."

Pc Dave Harrop looks after Goldhanger, Great Braxted, Little Braxted, Great Totham, Tollesbury, Wickham Bishops, and the Tolleshunts and said some people are opposed to not having what they perceive to be "a village bobby" around but "they could have as many as eight or nine working in plain clothes," depending on the nature of the problem.

Problems in Maldon town itself are mainly associated with youth nuisance,under-age drinking and currently car crime and officers will decide whether the best approach is going plain clothes or in uniform to tackle incidents.

If anyone wants to talk to a community police officer they can call 01621 840460.

The Dengie community policing team consists of Sgt John Clark and Pcs Clive Harding, Richard Ford, Clive Morris, Lisa Pitcher and Martin Gannon.

They can be contacted on 01621 774360.

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