UPTON residents want to see more police officers on the streets.

That was the message from a packed meeting on Tuesday between police officers and the public.

The meeting, at the Memorial Hall, was chaired by MP Sir Michael Spicer and attended by Chief Supt Simon Adams and Chief Insp Sharon Gibbons, who fielded questions from the town's people about policing in Upton.

Chief Supt Adams told the meeting that various measures were being looked at, including mobile CCTV cameras, and the possibility of alcohol bans in public places.

A neighbourhood warden, Mary Fisher, has also has been appointed recently.

Chief Supt Adams said Upton was a low-crime area with 232 reported incidents of crime in the past 12 months with beat officers patrolling the area regularly.

But Coun Mary Wilkinson said: "We don't expect to see police all the time, but if they came every night, from nine to one o'clock in the morning, if a man in a uniform was there, it would make a difference."

A member of the public added: "When we used to see a bobby, we watched out. Now we don't see policemen walking about and people can get away with anything."

Chief Supt Adams said insufficient resources meant that the police could not put as many beat officers on the streets as they would like.

After the meeting, Sir Michael pledged to write to Government ministers, demanding more money for officers on the beat.

He also wants to see more voluntary special constables.

Sir Michael said: "I would appeal to the residents of Upton to come forward in sufficient numbers to act as special constables."

Townspeople want another meeting with the police in three months' time to discuss progress.