A three-pronged clampdown on a troubled Basildon estate has slashed crime by half in just three weeks.

Residents on the Felmores council estate, Basildon police and Basildon Council joined forces to launch the operation.

It involved setting up a special police hotline which linked residents to two bobbies on the beat whose sole duties were to patrol the estate.

Police have been providing high visibility patrols in the area - and working hard to respond to concerns raised on the hotline.

Around 20 people have been arrested for a variety of offences, including theft, possession of offensive weapons and drug-related crimes. Police have also seized and crushed a number of untaxed vehicles on the estate - and have stopped motorists in the area for checks.

Meanwhile council workers have been trimming overhanging hedges, which could provide shelter for criminals and have cracked down on litter and abandoned vehicles.

Insp Glenn Caton, one of the driving forces behind the scheme, said progress so far had been "really encouraging".

He added: "We had received numerous complaints from the public about the area and wanted to start dealing with it.

"The best news for me is that reported crime has been reduced by 50 per cent, which is excellent.

"It's early days yet and this is only an indication but this is evidence of what can be achieved by agencies working together."

The operation is set to last another three weeks, although the agencies plan a series of ongoing initiatives in the area to keep up the good work.

The police hotline is 01268 244074 - though police say in an emergency, callers should still dial 999.

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