Five new community special constables will take to the streets of Witham after councillors pledged money in a bid to crackdown on crime.

Special constables have the same powers as Essex Police officers but are community volunteers and not paid for their efforts.

Witham Town Council will cover the £1,000 a year expenses of the officers, who will in turn spend at least 16 hours on duty a month in the town.

JoAnn Williams, Witham mayor, said: “Low priority crime has risen in Witham and the council felt that with no visible policing, the criminals are getting more and more brazen.

“By funding specials, we get what are basically police with full warrant powers who are dedicated to Witham and can show a regular and visible police presence on the streets.”

The council said it hopes the five officers will be a deterrent for would-be criminals.

Mrs Williams said: “We had funded PCSOs in the past, but these were taken away as that force was dissolved.The community specials should be much more effective as they are fully warranted officers and their uniforms are basically no different from those of a regular police constable.”

Funding for the constables will come from the council’s community budget for 2018/19, which is paid for by council tax.

Training a special takes between 18 months and two years, however if existing constables agree to work in Witham, the scheme could be seen in action much sooner.

Witham Town Council is one of five councils to join the new Essex Police scheme.

Superintendent Simon Anslow, who leads Essex Police’s Special Constabulary, said: “The community specials will be a committed resource for their designated area, performing the majority of their duties there and increasing visibility in their community.”

To find out more about becoming a special, visit www.essex.police.uk/join-the-police/special-constabulary.