ASK the man in the street about law and order and he will almost certainly say: there is too much crime.

Criminals have taken over the streets.

There is no point reporting crime because nothing is done.

Whether it is the reality or simply perception, that is how many residents feel.

Ask them if they blame the police for this situation and the answer is usually: “No.”

Rather, the blame is a lack of of bobbies on the beat.

So it is good news that funding has been found for ten more police officers in Colchester and 150 across Essex.

Let’s not be churlish. Any increase is good and gives the police a better chance of fighting crime.

But is it really enough? Bear in mind these officers will be split across seven days a week and

24 hours a day and you are barely getting any increase at all.

And, as councillor Mike Lilley points out, this is still not even getting us back to the level of policing of eight years ago.

True, times have moved on and technology can be used to ensure we have a more efficient police force, but that is more for finding the perpetrators of crime than sending out a visual message to criminals not to chance their luck.

The truth is, the police service, just like the ambulance service and so many organisations, has been a victim of austerity cuts which went too deep.

Certainly money is tight but there has to be some spending done if we are try to preserve the social standards and quality of life we hold so dear.