SUPERMARKET car parks are the new place to meet your community police officers with the launch of weekly street meets.

The hour-long day or night sessions will see PCSOs talk to residents about their concerns, give out safety advice and report any ongoing spates of crime.

It replaces the previous system, which saw PCSOs visit parish council meetings to spread news of reported crime levels and ongoing issues.

There will also be bi-monthly evening meetings with neighbourhood policing teams for the public to raise issues facing their communities in an effort to give residents a new voice in the fight against crime.

Acting Ch Insp Russ Cole, district commander for Tendring, said the new meetings would give police more chance to talk to members of the public about their concerns, so policing could be tailored to each area.

“With the meetings every eight weeks, the idea is to understand the priorities of that area, listen to the public and work on tackling and reducing crime and bringing offenders to justice," he said

“I’m committed to keeping that golden thread of contact with the community.”

Weekly meetings, possibly using a mobile police station, will take place at supermarket and village hall car parks, while the bi-monthly events will be held at community halls.

For more information on where your nearest police meeting is, go to essex.police. uk

The next Manningtree PCSO street meeting is on Monday from 5pm to 6pm at the East of England Co-op, Riverside Avenue East, Manningtree, or in Mistley on the same day from 7pm to 8pm at Mistley village hall car park, Shrubland Road, Mistley.

A community meeting will be held at Stourdale Hall, at Manningtree High School, Colchester Road, on December 2 from 6pm to 7pm.

In Harwich, the next PCSO street meeting is on Tuesday from 10am to 11am outside Asda in Main Road, Dovercourt.

The local community meeting will be on December 4 from 7pm at the Luney Hall, Barrack Lane, Harwich.