Brentwood Police have written to the council, concerned about the growing number of pubs in the town following a dramatic rise in violent crime statistics.

Violent offences in Brentwood were up 38 per cent, according to new figures released by the police this week.

And although police chiefs stressed that it was at least partly down to new ways of recording statistics, they are concerned about the increasing number of licensed premises in the town centre.

Insp Peter French said: "We have written to Brentwood Borough Council, voicing our concern about the increase in licensed premises in the High Street."

Much of the headline-grabbing rise was down to the increased recording of the most minor offences, plus a police "pro-active" stance against domestic violence, he said.

And he said Brentwood was still one of the safest parts of one of the safest counties in England.

But he added: "We are very disappointed with the increase in violent crime."

Better news for Brentwood was a fall in burglary and vehicle crime during the last six months.

Insp French said: "In the latter half of the year we have made major inroads into vehicle crime and burglary, with a significant reduction in such crime over the last six months."

While the rise in violent crime across the country grabs the headlines following the release of Home Office crime figures, Essex remains one of the safest counties in England.

Assistant Chief Constable John Broughton commented: "Of the 39 English police forces surveyed, only five had a lower crime rate than the Essex figure of 6,703 offences per 100,000 population in the 12 months under review.

"The report also shows that if you live in Essex you are less likely to be burgled or suffer from vehicle crime than in most other areas of the country, with the numbers of such offences falling here during the year.

''These are crimes the public has expressed most concern about and we are pleased that we have been able to impact upon them."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.