POLICE chiefs have come under fire over claims they told Hartford's community leaders to get involved in policing their own village.

The parish council was outraged after being asked to deal with troublemakers themselves.

"It beggars belief," said Clr Keith Musgrave. "It sounds very much like they are asking us to police our own village."

And parish chairman Clr Shirley Harris said the words had caused "significant alarm" among her colleagues.

"It's the thin end of the wedge," she added.

"What worries me is people calling in private security to deal with the situation.

"I want to see the village policed properly, but that must be done by a police officer."

Councillors hit out after reading a letter from Inspector Terry Oates, in which he responded to a string of complaints made after the withdrawal of Hartford's beat bobby Rod Stokes.

In the letter, Insp Oates stated senior officers' view that beat bobbies are not efficient - and asked councillors to consider telephoning the parents of known troublemakers.

His comments were defended by Chief Inspector Paul Moore.

He said: "I can see the point that he is making, and I don't think it's unreasonable.

"I think if a particular troublemaker is known to the council, there is nothing wrong with suggesting that they speak to the parents themselves."

But Clr Harris said parents wouldn't respond well to a call from a parish councillor.

"Quite understandably, I'm sure they'd see it as a rude intrusion," she added.

"I could quite forgive any parent who got angry because a councillor had rung up to try and discipline their child. They can't tell me a councillor would get a better response than a police officer."

Clr Harris and her colleagues are now drafting a letter to Northwich police chief Superintendent Ian Johns to express their concern. They have also sent copies of their recent correspondence with Mr Oates to MP Mike Hall, and Cheshire's Chief Constable Nigel Burgess.

Clr Musgrave said: "We want our fears to be clearly understood and we want this sorted now. It has gone on too long."

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