MARLOW has been offered more police presence in town if the council is prepared to charge residents higher taxes.

Thames Valley Police superintendent Nora Holford has offered to share the costs of an additional Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) specifically for Marlow if the town council will match the funding.

Marlow Town Council's finance committee chairman, Richard Scott, has warned that would mean residents paying up to £2 more per year in taxes.

(Households in Marlow currently pay £35.74 per year to the town council in precept tax, based on an average band D property.) PCSOs spend up to eight hours a day on patrol and work with the police to provide reassurance, tackle antisocial behaviour, and improve the quality of life.

Supt Holford estimates the cost of training, equipping and employing a PCSO is around £30,000.

Under the current proposal the town council would have to pay a maximum of £15,000 per year for an additional PCSO.

Mr Scott said: "There are about six PCSOs whose patch includes Marlow.

"However this would mean we would have our own dedicated PCSO. In an emergency, however, they could still be pulled away to other areas.

"Admittedly they have limited powers but we think a uniformed presence in the town is very useful to deter crime.

"Of course I would rather have more policemen around town, but in reality police say that is not going to happen with resource and budgeting constraints as they are."

The town council is keen to accept the offer but wants to know whether people in Marlow are prepared to stump up the cash.

Mr Scott said: "It is not worth holding a public consultation about this, it would be too expensive, but we are writing to around 50 Marlow groups and organisations to ask their views, and we want to know what other people think too.

"We will take the majority views into account, but ultimately, as the town's elected representatives, we will make the decision ourselves."

A spokesman for the police has assured councillors that the number of police officers in town will not be affected by their decision.

He said: "PCSOs are part of the extended police family, and do not replace police officers."

The decision will be made at the town council budgeting meeting in November.

To register your views write to reporter Sitala Peek, in no more than 50 words, at The Bucks Free Press, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 9TY or email comments to sitala.peek@london.newsquest.co.uk