However, as proposals are unveiled for similar posts in estates across the city, a senior councillor said they were already aware of benefits in the Hilltown and Kirkton.

Communities convener Councillor Chris Hind said today, “Dundee City Council is in the middle of an assessment. However, indications show that the neighbourhood police officers’ work has contributed greatly to a reduction in recorded crime levels.

“Specific crimes such as fire-raising and vehicle crime have reduced significantly in the Kirkton and Hilltown areas where the officers work. Fear of crime has reduced as well.”

The two neighbourhood officer posts were established in 2004, with funding from the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund.

The officers are directed towards community priorities, spending three-quarters of their time interacting with residents, local businesses and representative groups.

Projects undertaken have included targeting youths irresponsibly riding motor-bikes, which was identified as a problem in the Kirkton area.

It emerged this week that Tayside Police are now seeking funding to put up to eight neighbourhood police officers in other areas of the city.

Senior officers have put bids to the groups responsible for disbursing cash from the Community Regeneration Fund after identifying it as an additional revenue stream.

The plan fits in with a proposal put forward by Chief Constable John Vine last year to give groups in the community more of a say in the work done by officers in their area.

If given the go-ahead, the neighbour-hood officers will complement rather than replace existing resources.

Decisions on the two-year plan will be taken in the separate funding areas after community groups have assessed all the requests for cash.