Felixstowe residents concerned about particular aspects of crime in the area will now be able to call on a newly formed police team.

Nicknamed the Kestrel Team, Suffolk police have created a Neighbourhood Crime Proactive team dedicated to tackle criminal threats and challenges that emerge in a particular local area.

Kestrel team will provide a key aspect to the force's capability to address high-volume crimes, drug crime and associated anti-social behaviour. Where necessary, it will also assist and support in targeting local policing priorities and deal with the policing issues and concerns which matter most to local communities in Felixstowe, the Trimleys, and surrounding villages

The Kestrel team of seven (one sergeant and six PCs) based at Eye will be a highly visible and uniformed team, deployable across the county to any location in support of local policing. The team will be able to support locally based teams in tackling violent crime, burglary, robbery, vehicle crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour.

The funding for the new seven strong Kestrel team has come from finance provided by Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner's 4.69% increase to the policing element of council tax precept for this financial year. This rise will ensure the force continues to robustly tackle emerging criminality and will strengthen the force's proactive capability to respond to community concerns.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Jones said: "Having this additional team available will bolster our capability to rapidly support our local policing teams in addressing criminality. It will strengthen the force's proactive capability to respond to community concerns and help us robustly tackle emerging crime trends in an area and, ultimately, bring the perpetrators to justice.

County Policing Commander Chief Superintendent Marina Ericson said: "This dedicated Kestrel team will have the ability to dynamically deploy into a particular area for a period of time to target crime and work alongside the relevant local policing team.

"The team will work alongside other teams and partner agencies, putting a problem-solving approach at the heart of its activities and embracing creative and innovative methods. It will form a key part of the overall policing response to dealing with both existing and emerging criminal threats and challenges in local communities."

Tim Passmore, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner said: "I am very proud to see the Kestrel team in place and ready for action.

"The funding of these officers has come directly from the precept increase in this year's budget. It is one of several additional resources made possible by the precept increase and I hope people will see that their extra £10 a year - for a Band D property - really is making a difference.

"This team will be able to swoop into areas where additional resource is required to deal with issues affecting communities, working alongside local policing teams. I wish them all well and look forward to hearing the results."

Residents can report crime online here or call 101, In an emergency use 999.