A TOWN has been left without a much-valued dedicated police officer after he was redeployed to Barrow.

After extensive campaigning Dalton received a dedicated community police officer last year.

But the town has seen three officers perform the role in 15 months amid calls for a more permanent port of call for people in Dalton.

PC Matthew Noden is now to be stationed in Barrow and a new officer is to take up the role soon.

Dave Taylor, the chair of the Dalton Community Action Group, explained why Dalton needed permanent police resources.

He said: "We built some great community trust up with all these officers donating lots of time and effort to make them feel welcome in our community and Matt helped from day one, wanting to become a part of the Dalton community. He had some decent visions of his role and how he wanted to approach his job in Dalton and now he has been taken from us and doing the same role in Barrow.

"It's not good enough.

"Dalton needs a beat officer that walks the streets, meets the people and solves the local issues with offenders - every day."

A Cumbria police spokesman said “Dalton remains a priority for the Neighbourhood Policing team and a new community beat officer will be taking up the role at the end of the month following on the good work of PC Noden.

“Dalton is an area to benefit as part of the expansion of the neighbourhood policing teams into rural areas and will continue to have a dedicated officer to address local issues.

“During this short period between dedicated officers any issues will be addressed through officers in Barrow.

“We continue to encourage the community to report incidents and concerns to us, this can also be done online via our website.”

Dalton residents have previously raised fears over anti-social behaviour in the town.

Announcing the town would receive a dedicated officer last year, Cumbria's police and crime commissioner Peter McCall said: "Residents of the Dalton area can now be reassured that, together with the police, we have listened and responded to your calls for safer streets."