The CSOs patrol the beat on foot and get to know residents. A police spokesman said: "When they are out they will see things happening in specific areas and be able to call us out to deal with it."

However, Westbrook and Burtonwood councillors say they are unsure whether CSOs are something the parish council should be funding.

Clr John Joyce said: "We'd have to raise the rates and before we would do this we'd have to ask our parishioners if raising the rates to pay for CSOs was something they'd want us to do."

Clr Tina Cross said: "I fear CSOs are just another sticking plaster, rather than dealing with the real problems. However, I'd like to know more about how they are working."