A council has set up a "hotline" with police officers in an effort to crack down on crime.

Halstead Town Council has announced it is creating closer links with the Braintree Local Community Policing Team following a public meeting in September.

Councillors and residents met with officers at Queen's Hall to discuss the ongoing issues in the town, such as the antisocial behaviour taking place in public gardens and in Butler Road car park.

Following the meeting, the town council says it will be working closely with the local policing team to tackle crime in Halstead.

A spokesman said: “We are pleased to announce the development of closer links with the local Braintree police.

"The recent evening organised by police officers from Braintree attracted a lot of local residents who were very pleased to raise issues which affect people locally.

"It also enabled the council to establish a hotline to those working to combat the antisocial and crime issues which exist in Halstead.

"All issues of this kind are reported by the council as soon as residents report them, and they are also brought to the attention of PC Craig Wheeler, who is currently handling most Halstead issues.

"A lot of detailed information was given to the police at the public meeting, which has resulted in significant undercover and covert operations, and arrests."

Having arranged closer links with Essex Police, the town council is also appealing for residents to sign up to the special constable scheme.

The council agreed funding for three specials, who will work as voluntary police officers for at least 16 hours a month, during a meeting in June.

Mayor Andrew Munday has echoed calls for residents to sign up to the scheme and is confident a new approach will see a reduction in crime.

He said: “Without volunteers coming forward, Halstead Town Council cannot assess how well the specials scheme will work and whether to increase the budget to allow for more.

“It's also key that residents report anything out of the ordinary in order that the police can then respond, even if there are many residents reporting the same situation.

“With the vigilance of residents, the hopeful success of the specials program and better collaboration between police, the town council and residents, I hope that the town sees a drop in the trend of antisocial behaviour affecting Halstead.”