"Crime is falling - but we need right funding to keep it going down"

“Crime is continuing to fall in Essex – and we’ll be able to keep it going down if we have the right funding” – that’s the message from our Chief Constable.

The latest figures show there were more than 10,200 fewer crimes reported in Essex in the year to the end of June than the previous 12 months, a continuation of a trend which has seen crime fall in the county of the last few years.

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: “We’ve had consistent funding in recent years thanks to the people of Essex, and the Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner, meaning we’ve been able to grow the force and consistently bring crime down.

“There were more than 10,000 fewer crimes reported in the last year with fewer violent, sexual and domestic offences, and fewer repeat victims of domestic abuse.

“We’re starting to turn the tide of vehicle crime, we’re solving more vehicle theft cases, and we’re recovering hundreds of vehicles worth millions of pounds.

“Knife crime is falling and we’re seeing fewer people robbed. Although there is no complacency. Every person hurt or life lost is a tragedy.

“Our specialist team which investigates online child abuse is the most effective in the country and our DA teams are breaking the cycle of domestic abuse and changing people’s behaviour.

“In the last fortnight we’ve secured 52 charges for shoplifting.

“And just this month we’ve seen a 71 year-old man was jailed for eight years for attempted murder, Gavin Plumb brought to justice for his plot against Holly Willoughby, a drug dealer jailed for more than three years, and a man put away for stealing laptops from Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow during the Covid pandemic.

“This is all work that has real impact on people’s lives.

“To have a prosperous society, you need to have a safe society and I’m committed to keeping that work going - but we can only do so if we have the resources.”

Mr Harrington continued: “We need to ensure we can retain the officers we’ve recruited, support them, keep them trained, and provide them with the kit they need.

“But it’s not just about officers. We need to continue employing specialist staff like IT – 90 percent of crime has a digital footprint – forensics, training and development, custody officers, call handlers. Their work is crucial.

“And we need to provide our people with the equipment and environment to help them do their job. A new officer’s kit costs around £5,000 each while the cost to maintain our buildings has increased significantly in the last two years.

“We’re doing our bit. Last year we made £10 million in savings so we’re being as efficient as possible.

“And we’re one of the most cost-effective forces in the country with more officers on our streets per pound of funding received than anywhere else.”

The Chief Constable added that other parts of the criminal justice system also need support to get victims justice:

“Our communities need the court capacity to give victims and those accused justice quickly to ensure that when we put someone in front of a court they can be dealt with.

“At the beginning of this year there were 2,300 criminal proceedings waiting to be finalised. Each one of those means a victim’s and defendant’s lives are effectively put on hold, and means my officers’ case load increases.

“In some cases we have seen people wait years to get justice, and that can’t be right.

“Health and social care need funding so people in a mental health crisis can get the support they need, when they need it, from the people with those expertise. This will allow policing to do the things only we can do – catch offenders and bring them to justice.

“Around 75 percent of people in Essex think we do a good or excellent job and I’m really proud of that, and all the work my officers do to keep you safe. My ask is that we’re given the tools and resources to keep that work going.

“There is no complacency within Essex Police and we know we have more to do and are all committed to Protecting and Serving the people of Essex”

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