TEN people were arrested as police officers continue to crackdown on serious violence and crimes in Essex.

Officers visited several licensed premises in Colchester and made arrests in the town during a series of actions across the county.

Officers from Essex Police’s operational support group, dog section, roads policing units and special constabulary were involved in the crackdown.

They were out patrolling in areas including Colchester, Jaywick and south Essex towns and engaging with residents and visitors.

Gazette:

Two people were arrested after attending police stations because they heard officers wanted to speak to them while another individual was arrested on Monday morning.

On Saturday, officers made arrests in Colchester, Chelmsford and south Essex, including two men arrested on suspicion of attempted assault causing grievous bodily harm.

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Another was arrested on suspicion of house burglary and one on suspicion of malicious communications.

A man was also arrested after officers stopped him on a suspected stolen motorcycle, while knives were found in a separate vehicle which had been abandoned by its driver after they failed to stop.

On Sunday, officers made three further arrests, including a man arrested on suspicion of house burglary after he attended a police station because he heard officers had been seeking to speak to him the previous day.

And on Monday another man went to a police station after hearing officers wanted to speak to him. He has since been arrested on suspicion of bail breaches.

Gazette:

Chief Inspector Richard Baxter said: “Our officers, both regulars and specials, are out on the streets of Essex tackling crime 24 hours a day and the operational policing command generally contributes specialist skills.

“This weekend our focus was on arresting people suspected of serious violence but, of course, officers also dealt with any offences they came across and helped members of the public who needed their help.

“However, we cannot do this without your help and I would encourage anyone who has any information about any crime to report it to us, on our website, by phoning 101 or, if it’s a crime in progress, by ringing 999.”