EXTRA police patrols will continue in Royston due to support from the business community.

Royston First Business Improvement District will keep on paying for two officers to police the town centre and industrial area on Friday and Saturday night.

The additional bobbies on the beat will help monitor the night time economy and prevent commercial crime the police claim.

Sgt Jon Vine, of the Royston Safer Neighbourhood team, welcomed the move.

He said: “This is now the fourth year of the patrols and over that time we have seen a real change in the town during that period.”

“The additional patrols have allowed us to work even more closely with the licensed premises to make Royston a safer and more enjoyable place to spend an evening. We have seen reductions in anti-social behaviour, public order offences and assaults.”

Town centre manager Geraint Burnell said the BID initiative is one of very few business partnerships that funds extra police patrols and hopes it can continue.

“‘We have been extremely pleased with this partnership work and have seen the benefits to the business communities and people using the town,” he said.