SENIOR Police officers have warned that a parish officer may not be the solution to Bromyard's crime problems.

Chief Inspector Shane Hancock and Inspector Sheila Thorns, from the Herefordshire division of West Mercia Police, urged the town to think carefully about the idea.

Bromyard and Winslow Town Council last month revealed it was thinking of investing in a parish officer following an increase in complaints about anti-social behaviour in the town.

However, at a full council meeting on Monday, Chief Insp. Hancock said: "This may or may not be something for you. The first thing you have to identify is what are your needs," he said. "Do we think a parish officer can meet those needs - is it the answer? If it isn't, perhaps the parish officer is not for you."

He said the job description for a parish officer was "almost identical" to that of Bromyard's community support officer, Barry Lockyear, who is paid by the Home Office.

Chief Insp. Hancock added that wages for the officer would total between £13,000 and £18,000 and that "we probably wouldn't support a parish officer or a CSO working at nights".

However, he did reveal that the scheme had proved popular with residents in Moreton-on-Lugg, which with Ledbury is one of only two Herefordshire communities to have its own officer.

Chief Insp. Hancock said that a survey revealed 83 per cent of Moreton residents felt safer following the officer's arrival to patrol.

But Coun Peter Dauncey said: "We need policing more at night when the pubs are turning out and when considerable hooliganism takes place," he said.

"The situation in Bromyard on a Friday and Saturday night is that it's almost a no-go area for older people.

"I don't think this is going to cure any of our problems. What we need is extra police officers."

Insp. Thorne said a lack of resources meant no more officers could be deployed to Bromyard.

Chief Insp. Hancock added that CSOs could soon be given powers to tackle low-level nuisance and anti-social behaviour.

The council will discuss the issue again at its next meeting in September.