Norfolk's new police and crime commissioner promised he would put more bobbies on the beat and today he has honoured that pledge by freeing up £300,000 over the next four years.

A week after Lorne Green was voted Norfolk's second police and crime commissioner - after a dramatic contest in which his predecessor Stephen Bett was ousted by Norfolk's voters - new Conservative commissioner made available £75,000 a year by scrapping the deputy commissioner post.

Mr Green, a former Canadian diplomat, has axed the position which he insisted was a 'waste of money' and yesterday signed over the money it would cost to employ a deputy for the next four years - the length of his term - to chief constable Simon Bailey.

Mr Green said: 'I thought it was a waste of money particularly as that money could have and would have bought two additional bobbies. I've met the chief constable and written a cheque and passed it to him for £75,000 and have said to him I want it to be spent on new additional bobbies on the beat and he's agreed to do that.'

Mr Green said he felt 'humbled' to have been chosen by the electorate as the county's new police and crime commissioner but has 'given credit' to his predecessor, Mr Bett, 'for all he has done for policing in the county' as a crime commissioner and before that in the Norfolk Police Authority.

And now Mr Green, who holds British and Canadian passports and has lived in Snettisham in west Norfolk for 17 years, said he wants to repay the trust people have shown by voting for him in last week's elections.

He said: 'I'm the public's servant. It's my job to enhance the quality of life in this county for every man, woman and child ensuring that everyone feels safe and secure.

'I would like to think that my wife could walk our dog at night without feeling fearful, that an elderly person can come home from bingo at night and not be worried about the security of their home, that children can play safely in front of their homes without parents having to be worried about reckless drivers down their road.'

Outlining some of his priorities for the next four years, Mr Green said putting more bobbies on the beat, tackling reckless driving, recruiting more speedwatch volunteers and cracking down on business crime and rural crime were among his key objectives.

He would like to see a car 'totalled' in a crash taken around the county, to schools, academies, market places, outside pubs and to village fetes so people can see for themselves the devastating effect of drink or drug driving.

He also wanted to see officers given '21st century tools to fight 21st century crime' by getting them equipped with things like bodycams.

Mr Green said public listening rather than public speaking is one of the keys to the role and wants to do more of that by holding a programme of public meetings throughout the county.

What do you think of the new police and crime commissioner's ideas? Write to EDP letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email edpletters@archant.co.uk giving your full name, address and contact details.