CHANGES to police meetings with the community will come into place next week as part of tweaks to the force’s structure.

Neighbourhood Action Panels will be scrapped from Wednesday, October 1, under the scheme and replaced with Local Community Meetings which will be held every eight weeks rather than every six. The plans will be fully operational by November 1.

The LCMs will be attended by sergeants or inspectors in a bid to speed up resolving issues.

The changes are in response to dwindling resources but will be supported by weekly ‘street meets’ with PCSOs on their designated patch.

Supermarkets, libraries, shopping centres and other public venues are all locations where these hour-long, informal meetings will be held.

Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said: "Consistent and effective contact between communities and their local policing team is crucial. Although there are a number of good local police and community meetings there are many that are poorly attended and not as effective as they could be. Therefore, I have decided to refresh our approach.

"With shrinking resources I need to make sure my officers can realistically deliver on the important promises we make to local communities. Involving a local sergeant or inspector in community meetings will ensure issues are dealt with promptly and that results are fed back to communities.

"Local community meetings mean residents and businesses can work with their local policing team to address matters of concern. I encourage people to come and talk to us. Let us know about the issues that are important to you.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston added: "Essex Police needs to get better and be more consistent at engaging with local communities. I welcome these plans for new regular meetings, with a guaranteed presence from a neighbourhood sergeant, and a clear system for ensuring that concerns are recorded and acted upon.

“It is essential that everyone who raises an issue receives timely feedback about the matter that concerns them.”

Communities are encouraged to continue to hold NAPs but to bring any issues of concern to the attention of the relevant local community meeting.

Street meets and LCMs will be advertised in advance on the Essex Police website and via social media. For more information visit www.essex.police.uk/my_neighbourhood.