Police are to operate 18-hours-a-day Chelmsford town centre patrols in an attempt to wipe out drink, drug and petty theft offences.

The move follows concern expressed by councillors and retail bosses and will come into being in the spring.

There has been alarm over drunkenness in the High Chelmer and Central Park areas.

Chief Inspector Tim Oliver told Chelmsford Borough Council's community safety committee on Wednesday evening that he would be assigning three or four officers to the town police team to operate from 8.30am through to 2am the next day.

All probationers attached to Chelmsford police station will bolster these permanent officers.

Councillors had requested police attendance at the meeting after expressing serious concern about the behaviour of some people in the vicinity of West Square, linked to drink and drugs, and wanted to hear proposed police action.

Chief Insp Olver said that there had been 101 drink/drugs-related incidents so far this year.

The committee heard that there was drunkenness, drinking in the street, abuse, vomiting and urination -- all of which turned people off going to the area.

Chief Insp Olver said that the new patrolling system would supplement the CCTV surveillance which had been a tremendous success in almost completely eradicating vandalism from the town centre.

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