CUTS to police services are contributing to a recent increase in crime warn Cressing Parish Council.

There have been a series of incidents in the area in the past few weeks including the attempted robbery of an ATM machine from Cressing Service Station on April 19.

Police also caught two suspected burglars who were acting suspiciously on Bulford Mill Lane, after an operation involving the police helicopter and dog unit on May 7.

Cressing Parish Council are concerned that the lack of police presence in the village could be contributing to the increase in such crimes.

Mr Anton Liebscher, Chairman of Cressing Parish Council, said: "The most significant thing about these burglaries is this: Cressing was a low crime area for many years, with almost no crime with the exception of 1 or 2 domestics and the drive offs from the petrol station.

"Since Braintree's PC Support Officers have been cut to 2 we have seen an increase in various crimes and misdemeanours. It strikes me that there is direct correlation.

"Cressing Parish Council predicted this trend and have facilitated a Neighbourhood Watch Group but this is in early days and needs to grow. The Neighbourhood Watch is looking for more volunteers especially with ability to assist with the organisation."

It was announced in January that 150 Police Community Support Officers were to lose their jobs across Essex, and Essex police are anticipating cuts of around £63million by 2019-2020.

This could mean further job cuts as they need £1million to pay for 20 police constables per year.

Braintree District Councillor, Mr James Abbott (Green Party, Silver End and Cressing) said: "I don't think we do live in a high crime area although burglaries, notably in the afternoons, seem to have been a feature in local press reporting over the last year or so.

"I think that underlines the need to keep police and PCSOs on the streets being proactive and not just in a reactive mode, which is where we are heading with the budget cuts.

"Its good to see the police catching suspects and I would always support strong action in the courts against those found guilty of burglary - it is a horrible crime that can deeply affect the victims."

Roger Hirst, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex said: "Whilst I share residents’ concerns in Cressing that there has been a local spike in burglaries recently, I am encouraged by the positive police action in dealing with this issue, including the two recent arrests.

"There is no doubt that Essex Police is working with less officers and staff particularly with the recent and regrettable departure of many of the county’s valued PCSOs – although these burglaries happened before the reductions came into effect.

"However I am committed to ensuring that the people of Essex have a local and visible police presence and, with the creation of the new Community Policing Teams focusing on smarter, intelligence-led policing responding to pressing community concerns and crime trends, I remain confident this will happen.”