A high ranking Labour politician has been given an insight into how the people of Lowestoft want crime and inconsiderate motorists in the town to be tackled by police.

Jack Dromey, shadow minister for policing, attended a public meeting at St Andrew's Church in Roman Road on today in which residents and councillors could air their views on issues surrounding crime and policing.

Mr Dromey heard that residents wanted police to do more to enforce parking restrictions to stop cars parking illegally on roads and pavements and prevent cars illegally driving down High Street - issues the shadow minister said got up 'people's noses'.

The meeting also heard concerns about the increase in hate crimes, especially against disabled people, and shop workers being threatened and attacked.

Mr Dromey also told the meeting how the current government had cut 10,000 front line police officers, including 100 in Suffolk, and that policing budgets would be further stretched.

He also told the meeting how if Labour was elected his party would bolster investment in community-led policing and give residents of Lowestoft a say in local policing plans and give local authorities an input into selecting the police chef for Waveney.

Mr Dromey said: 'It is about the local community having a real say in the policing of the roads and streets they live in.

'It is about the well-being of the community generally, including these issues of traffic management and street management.

After the meeting, which had been organised by Bob Blizzard, Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Waveney, Mr Dromey visited Lowestoft police station to talk to officers about their roles.

Mr Dromey's Lowestoft's appearance was one of 50 visits he is making nationwide ahead of a major announcement in September on Labour's policing policy.