THAT’S from our Chief Constable as new figures show we solved nearly 500 more offences in the last year than the previous 12 months.
In that time, we’ve seen increases in the number of serious violent crimes, rape and sexual offences, the most serious domestic abuse, vehicle thefts, and thefts from shops solved.
“Although we are improving, there is more to do and we are committed to doing it. We need to ensure we get justice for all victims of crime”
In particular, the number of vehicle theft offences solved has more than doubled.
Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: “Getting justice for victims is, and must be, the priority for any police force and we’re getting more results for them.
“Essex officers made more than 30,000 arrests in the last year and secured 13,600 charges.
“That’s 82 suspects in custody every single day.
“We’ve made big strides in tackling crime that we know matters to the public such as vehicle crime. We’ve put extra resources in place to tackle this issue and we’re seeing results – with a 10 percent fall in offences and the number of offences solved more than doubling.
“Just last week a gang was jailed for more than 30 years for an organised vehicle theft conspiracy.
“We’ve secured 200 charges for home burglaries as well as more than 2,800 charges for shoplifting.
“We continue to tackle drugs and gangs highlighted by the total of 42 years handed down last week to a county lines gang operating in Harwich. They’re behind bars thanks to the professionalism and dedication of our officers.
“This work is all happening against a backdrop of continuously falling crime. We’ve seen the number of offences fall consistently over the last few years. In the last 12 months there were more than 8,500 fewer offences reported and 20,000 fewer than five years ago.
“However, one crime and one victim is one too many and we know there is more to do. You have my commitment that we are working to reduce crime further and get more results for victims.”
Mr Harrington added that the force has invested to tackle crime in your neighbourhoods: “We have invested to enhance our visible presence and accessibility with our expanded Neighbourhood Policing Teams.
“They’re out every day in your neighbourhoods, working with partners to tackle the issues that matter most to you.
“In the last year, officers that make up these teams made 1,700 arrests and secured nearly 1,200 charges.
“In the last three months alone, since they were expanded, they’ve made more than 500 arrests across the county and secured more than 300 charges.
“They’re doing this every single day because we value our neighbourhoods.”
