Calls for a “town constable” for Whitstable have received cross-party support after the Home Office announced plans to recruit more officers.

The government is providing £750 million to support forces to take on 6,000 additional recruits by the end of 2020-21, the first stage of the drive to boost numbers. Kent’s target is 147, among one of the highest of all forces.

Now both Labour MP Rosie Duffield and Tory parliamentary candidate Anna Firth are urging Kent Police to employ an officer dedicated to Whitstable.

Ms Duffield said: “I welcome the Home Secretary’s announcement on the first wave of new police hires in Kent - 147 officers - which were promised in the government Spending Review.

“It is positive news that the Tory party is taking some small action to make up for the axing of some 454 police officers and 98 PSCOs in Kent since 2010.

“Given that we are experiencing the fastest rise in recorded crime in a decade, much, much more needs to be done when it comes to funding our police force and ultimately making it more effective.

“I hope that these police hires will be reflected on the ground by an increased officer presence across our area and especially in Whitstable, where I’ve raised with Kent Police the concerns residents have around the lack of a town constable.”

Ms Firth also backed the calls and said it was “long overdue”.

“We are absolutely going to deliver that,” she said. “I am very confident we will get one for Whitstable.

“I have been working with the Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott and I have lobbied the Home Secretary.

“Even before I was selected, I was looking into issues and I identified the return of a town constable in Whitstable.

“This is going to be one of my major campaigns. I want to make absolutely certain we get our fair share of officers in Canterbury and Whitstable.”

Kent Police refused to confirm whether Whitstable was set to receive a town constable or if there would be an increased officer presence in the town.

Canterbury and Dover chief inspector Elena Hall said police resources across the district are “regularly reviewed”.

She added: “Kent Police is to receive 147 officers through central government funding announced this month, in addition to the 480 officers already secured by the Police and Crime Commissioner through funding by the council tax precept.

“Some of these new officers have already begun serving communities across Kent, including Whitstable.”

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable