As Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex I will ensure Essex Police sees more investment in its capability to prevent crime and get crime down, and that Essex County Fire & Rescue is supported to protect people and prevent fires, flood hazards and road traffic collisions.

Full statement

Over the last eight years as your PFCC I have funded the expansion of Essex Police by 905 officers, to 3,755, backed by government’s Police Uplift Programme and with your support. Essex Police is now the biggest and strongest it has ever been. As a result, crime is now falling. Last year, total crime was reduced by 6%, and anti-social behaviour (ASB) by 38%. ASB is now 70% lower than it was in 2016, and murder and burglary are both down by over 40%.

My Plan to Make Essex Safer:

More local, visible & accessible policing: Ensure the police are there when you need them. Deliver effective response and follow up all reasonable lines of enquiry.

Drive down anti-social behaviour & crime: More hotspot policing and monitoring known offenders to prevent crime, and protect rural areas.

Beat knife crime and drug gangs & protect young people: Take drugs and weapons off our streets and help young people get out of gangs.

Protect women and girls from violence and domestic abuse: Invest in safer streets and bring more perpetrators to justice.

Ensure vulnerable people are protected: More safe and well visits, and community safety officers to identify risks and help people stay safe.

Improve road safety and reduce road death in Essex to Zero: Tackle speeding and drink and drug driving. Better tech, better education, and better enforcement.

Fire & Rescue Service Reform: Modernising the Fire & Rescue Service to reduce risk and keep more people safe.

Prepared by Mark Coxshall of 799 London Road, Grays, RM20 3LH