Crime is on the rise across Essex, with a 15 per cent increase in house burglaries, police figures revealed today.
The number of reported offences rose by 17 per cent in Rayleigh, 13 per cent in Southend, 12 per cent in Basildon and 12 per cent in Thurrock, from September 2002 to September 2003.
Yet police chiefs still insist Essex is one of the safest places in the country in which to live - while accepting there is room for improvement in the force's performance.
An Essex Police spokesman said: "There's always room for improvement. We're striving constantly to do that. We're mindful that Essex residents are among the least likely in the country to have homes burgled."
The latest figures show household burglaries shot up from 6,281 to 7,225 - soaring past Essex Police's target of 6,609. The number of violent crimes remained the same as in the previous 12 months, but was three per cent above the force's target rate.
Published Tuesday November 25, 2003
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