The first citizen patrols have been a success in Wisbech according to the councillor who pioneered the idea.

Councillor Steve Tierney, who just missed out on being among the final candidates for a £70,000 a year role as Police Crime Commissioner, said local people greeted the new scheme with enthusiasm.

Speaking on his blog he said: “We took the walk slowly, stopping at various businesses to introduced ourselves, saying hello to people we saw and met.

“Every person we spoke to was very nice and very supportive.

“I don’t claim this would solve all the problems and of course there are many things it couldn’t do anything about.

“But I am convinced it would make people feel safer and would make the community better.

“The volunteers were professional and fun at the same time. We bumped into two police walking a beat through town and chatted to them for a while. “Also very supportive. All in all it was very nice, and a very healthy walk.”

Included on the rounds are “hotspots” which local people have asked for including Memorial Gardens, St Peters, Norfolk Street, Market Place, Wisbech Park, The Spinney and Walksoken.

The patrols were launched as a community initiative and are not controlled by the police or local councils but instead work as partners alongside them doing their best to support them.

Volunteers are asked to patrol for at least two hours every month alongside others and wear a high visibility Wisbech Citizens’ Patrol vest.

”Similar schemes have worked all over the country and have been shown to reduce crime and the fear of crime,” Cllr Tierney said.

“We hope that Wisbech Citizens’ Patrol will have a similar effect in our Town.”

He added they would welcome more volunteers to enable them to expand activities.