TENDRING’S top cop claims “the thin blue line has never been thinner” as he acknowledged police resources are stretched.

Chief Insp Russ Cole, Tendring district commander, addressed hundreds of angry Harwich residents at a packed meeting in Dovercourt.

He said: “I acknowledge there are reductions.

"I acknowledge that the 101 system perhaps isn’t as good as it has been.

“But please don’t let that put anyone off from reporting crime or contacting us with pieces of intelligence.

“In my 27-year career the police have probably never been this stretched.

"The thin blue line has probably never been thinner.

“But that doesn’t mean we are going to give up.

"We are going to stay on our toes, we are going to stay proactive and stay working with my team.

“We take these issues seriously and we will improve on them.”

Jane Gardner, deputy police commissioner, who was also at the meeting, told residents: “You want more police – we would like to see additional resources in Essex as well.

The office of the police commissioner does share your concern about wanting to see more local visible policing on the streets.”

Harwich MP Bernard Jenkin’ s senior assistant Tom Fairweather said Mr Jenkin would be lobbying the Home Secretary over police funding.