TARGETED patrols and operations in areas of Essex with the highest probability of a violent incident led to 295 arrests and 534 stop searches in the past year.
Officers spent more than 19,000 hours working in 12 hotspot zones across the county to prevent violent crime and catch offenders. They also safeguarded 284 people and seized 182 weapons.
Data analysis is used to identify where and when officers should be deployed to maximise their impact.
Three of the hotspots are in Southend, with two in Colchester, and one in each of Basildon, Chelmsford, Harlow, Clacton, Braintree, Grays and Brentwood.
Alongside short, sharp foot patrols, officers engage with the community and highlight areas where improvements such as better street lighting and CCTV coverage could reduce the possibility of crime and help people feel safer.
Across the 12 hotspots, there were 105 fewer incidents of violence compared to the previous year – a fall of 5%.
Officers on hotspot patrols also made arrests for offences including possession of drugs, robbery, burglary, and sexual assault.
In addition, the hotspot team initiated a series of operations and projects to deal with area-specific issues. These included:
Safe Spaces in Southend, Clacton, Colchester, Chelmsford, Grays and Braintree to engage with the public and give people on nights out somewhere they could get help if they felt vulnerable.
OpenGate weapons detector deployments.
Visiting more than 3,500 homes in hotspot areas ahead of the law change regarding knife ownership, which yielded 128 surrendered weapons.
Proactive patrols in Colchester, Chelmsford, Basildon, Braintree, Grays, and Harlow that focused on protecting women and girls, and looking for signs of predatory behaviour.
The opening of a community hub in the Eastgate shopping centre, Basildon.
Inspector Sharon Wyatt, who leads hotspot policing, said her team are committed to reducing levels of offending:
“Incidents of serious violence and knife crime are down across the county. Our officers are in the right places at the right times to arrest individuals intent on causing harm and protect the people who need our help.
“We focus on areas where we know incidents are likely and create a hostile environment for criminals. Patrols can take place at any time of the day or night, and anyone carrying a weapon could turn a corner and walk straight into an OpenGate deployment. That is a significant deterrent.
“We are also talking to residents and working closely with our partners to understand and help tackle the issues that are affecting these communities.
“By being visible, acting when we see suspicious behaviour and engaging with the public, we are cutting crime and helping people to feel safer.”
