THE number of criminals carrying weapons in Colchester has increased over the past year, police figures reveal.

Essex Police data shows 157 weapons possession offences were recorded in the city in the year to June.

But Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said the numbers are up because “proactive” police officers are catching more criminals.

“They are making arrests and that is having a deterrent effect and this will have an impact,” he said.

Gazette: Determined - Chief Constable of Essex Police, Ben-Julian HarringtonDetermined - Chief Constable of Essex Police, Ben-Julian Harrington (Image: Essex Police)

“In Colchester we see between 30 to 40 knife crime investigations a month. Each one is one too many.

“About ten of those are serious incidents where someone has been hurt.”

The top policeman hailed the effect of Operation Grip, which uses scientific evidence to highlight crime hotspots in Colchester, in tackling knife crime head on.

Police chiefs use the data to increase patrols in areas most affected by high harm crime and catch criminals carrying weapons.

Gazette: Knife crime - 157 weapons possession offences were recorded in Colchester in the year to JuneKnife crime - 157 weapons possession offences were recorded in Colchester in the year to June (Image: Newsquest)

Colchester has four hotspots identified by the police as being most likely to see high harm crime.

They are High Street, the Dutch Quarter, Essex University and Vineyard Street, including Osborne Street, St Botolph’s Street, Short Wyre Street and Eld Lane.

Mr Harrington said officers are also using knife arches and their stop and search powers to crack down on knife crime.

"We are also doing lots of work with young people in schools, we are trying to prevent people carrying knives in that way," he added.

Gazette: Proactive - a Colchester Institute student walks through a knife arch on campusProactive - a Colchester Institute student walks through a knife arch on campus (Image: Essex Police)

“We are using scientific evidence targeting those places where there is more knife crime.

“The number of incidents across the county is going down.”

Figures show there were 259 fewer knife-enabled offences recorded by Essex Police in the county in the 12 months to March 23 compared to the year to March 2020.

In the 12 months to March this year, there were 1,622 knife-enabled offences recorded by officers.

Mr Harrington added: “I also think there is a real responsibility we all have to tell people to leave their knife at home.

“There is a real opportunity for everyone to take knives off the streets.”