A NEW job to manage the police's reputation in the eyes of the public is among ideas to be discussed at today's Suffolk Police Authority meeting.The new manager would be part of a new corporate communications unit which could include a new website manager.

A NEW job to manage the police's reputation in the eyes of the public is among ideas to be discussed at today's Suffolk Police Authority meeting.

The new manager would be part of a new corporate communications unit which could include a new website manager.

The meeting at Martlesham force headquarters will also hear how 15 more community police officers are on the cards for East Suffolk in the coming year, but there will be no more high visibility town centre, or response patrols, or intelligence or child protection officers.

New rules on getting information from informers has stopped the Force Intelligence Bureau from exploiting the information which exists, and a report adds: "That has reduced the opportunities for the constabulary to respond to more serious areas of criminality, including public order and drugs."

but there remains a problem intelligence or respond to drug crimes.

The police also can't find a fingerprints expert after losing two staff, as adverts have so far failed to attract replacements.

A new £850,000 scientific services unit to is set to be built at Halesworth, which could mean some departments, including a laboratory and the fingerprint bureau moving from Ipswich.

And a new casualty reduction unit to focus on road deaths could also be created.

A review of Neighbourhood Watch groups in Suffolk has revealed that although co-ordinators of Suffolk's 1,800 groups show great enthusiasm, the full potential of the system is not being realised.

A new website, email facility, and a guide for new co-ordinators will also be discussed.