The fear of crime is heightened on Friday and Saturday nights

Mr Norman, who represents Tunbridge Wells, said people living there thought crime and anti-social behaviour had increased over the last year.

His findings come from a crime survey sent out to his constituents.

Mr Norman is meeting senior Kent police officers on Friday to raise his concerns and call for action.

It is time to get police in uniforms back in the community Archie Norman, Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells

He said results from his constituency-wide survey showed almost 60% of people thought crime had risen significantly in the last 12 months.

More than 80% believed that increased patrolling of the streets should be the main priority for Kent Police, with 61% saying they would support an increase in taxes to pay for more foot patrols and community officers.

Mr Norman said many people who had completed the survey were wary of going into the town centre of Tunbridge Wells on Friday and Saturday nights because they believed there had been an increase in anti-social behaviour.

He said the results of his poll showed Kent Police were failing to "deliver secure neighbourhoods".

"I believe that a permissive attitude to anti-social behaviour and lack of visible policing is sowing the seeds for serious crime in the future.

"It is time to get police in uniforms back in the community," he said.