Town will pay for bobbies on the beat
Liskeard town council has agreed to pay for two bobbies to walk the beat on the beat to patrol the streets on Friday and Saturday nights.
It is hoped that the town will be able to employ one policeman at a cost of £38 an hour, plus a special constable.
The scheme will cost the taxpayers in Liskeard an extra £9,000 a year and is an interim measure prior to CCTV cameras being installed.
In a statement on Monday Liskeard mayor Roger Holmes said; ' The Council has already agreed to support the installation of CCTV cameras in strategic areas. However, as these cannot be installed, at the earliest, until the late autumn and possibly not until the spring, the council has agreed to discuss with the police the hiring of a couple of police officers for Friday and Saturday nights, reviewing the situation after three months.
'Although expensive it is felt that the police would exert a more authoritative and effective presence than security guards.'
Mr Holmes added that it was hoped that local businesses would support the scheme and even help to meeting some of the costs.
The decision was made at a special meeting called on Monday following extensive damage done to shop windows on Saturday July 17, and the ongoing incidents of vandalism which have also included wrecking flower containers on the newly refurbished Parade.