ONE of the town's four police units could be landed with three crime hotspots in a new shake-up.

Top officers are in talks to decide if Bewsey, Dallam and Whitecross should become part of Warrington West Neighbourhood Policing Unit.

The controversial plan would see the three troubled areas removed from the control of the central NPU which currently covers town centre and inner wards and put under the control of officers whose patch runs as far as Burtonwood.

A spokesman for Warrington police said: "In Warrington we have to respond to strong and competing demands for policing, which we have to balance against available resources as those demands change.

"We are reviewing policing in the area to ensure that resources are in the right place so we can best meet the challenges.

"However, no decision has yet been made and we will be discussing these issues with partners as part of the process."

A police source said the partial restructure was to help police patrolling the central unit concentrate on problems in the town centre.

It is unclear if the move would pull resources from Callands, Great Sankey, Old Hall, Penketh, Westbrook, Whittle Hall and Winwick.

At the moment, western wards have community support officers paid for by parish councils but problems could arise if their CSOs are asked to patrol the new wards.

Bewsey, Dallam and Whitecross are not covered by parish councils which means they would be unable to pay for extra policing support The news was revealed at a meeting of Burtonwood Parish Council meeting.

A spokesman for the council said: This would increase the existing officers workloads and would affect the capability of policing the area efficiently.

"The newly designated community police support officers might be affected and that they could be pulled' to other areas if required."