A 24-HOUR police team removed two years ago due to budget cuts, could be reinstated in Marlow.

Sergeant Julian Heard, of Amersham Police Station, announced the exciting possibility during a speech on the future of policing in Marlow and the Thames Valley.

He said: "We are looking to getting an establishment back to Marlow and getting a reactive team there like it was a few years ago."

If Marlow's reactive team is returned they will have the resources to supply 24-hour cover, responding to all 999 calls in the area. The town lost its reactive team almost two years ago due to budget cuts.

Sgt Heard added at the Marlow Chamber of Trade meeting on Monday night that this would be subject to a thorough consultation.

"This is very long and over due," said Richard Hunt, owner of Hunts Hardware in Spittal Street, who was at the meeting.

He added: "We have been so open and vulnerable for such a long time."

The police reactive teams are currently based at Wycombe and Amersham.

Sgt Heard added: "In rush hour, Marlow is about 20 minutes from Wycombe.

"The rethink is they will quite probably reintroduce some form of reactive policing in Marlow so you get a much quicker response."

Sgt Heard, who used to work at Marlow under its previous inspector Martin Bolton, revealed a 17 per cent drop in car crime figures saying: "Crime figures in Marlow are relatively low."

Last year there were around 420 car crimes in Marlow town, including Marlow Bottom, Little Marlow and Bourne End. In 1999, there were 505 car crimes.

House burglaries have remained stagnant with 188 recorded in 2000 and business burglaries have risen slightly since 1999 from 116 to 134.

Colin Berks, president of the Chamber of Trade said: "We are particularly pleased with his comments about reintroducing police into Marlow."