THE head of Northwich police has revealed that beat bobbies are a thing of the past.

Superintendent Ian Johns said he had no plans to put officers back on the streets - and pleaded with the public to understand.

"It is time to realise that we are a partnership," he told the Guardian yesterday, Tuesday.

"Both the borough and parish councils must play a part in eliminating the problems."

His comments came just a week after Hartford councillors received a letter from the police asking them to ring the parents of troublesome teenagers themselves.

The request caused outrage with Clr Keith Musgrave claiming: "It's like they're telling us to police our own village."

But Supt Johns denied that - and said the police can't deal with rowdy youngsters on their own.

"If there is a criminal act being committed, we will deal with it," he said.

"But standing around and making noise is not an arrestable offence. Parish councillors, even other parents, must understand they have a responsibility too."

Supt Johns said his officers would target locations which are regularly hit by crime, pointing to Davenham Cricket Club as an example.

"We identified that as a vulnerable area, so a team of bobbies visit it once a week," he said.

"That is an effective police presence. One officer floating around in a village while things are happening elsewhere, is not."

And Supt Johns stressed that his resources were stretched - but added that even if he had extra officers, they would not be used as beat bobbies.

"They aren't effective. Every division around the country has realised that," he said.

"I say this to Hartford Parish Council: help these youngsters find something to do that stops them getting bored.

"We will then pick up those who are committing the criminal acts."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.