TWO teenagers have been arrested during the Safer Colchester Project’s first weekend in Tiptree.

The arrests came as local police beefed up patrols is the village, with help from officers from Colchester, over the weekend.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested at about 9pm on Friday, on suspicion of damaging fence panels in New Road.

He was questioned by police and released on police bail, pending further inquiries, until Saturday.

A 19-year-old was arrested just before 11pm the same night, on suspicion of smashing the window of a Ford Escort van. He admitted further damage offences and was given a police caution.

Mark Barham, Safer Colchester Project co-ordinator, said: “These are exactly the kind of offences we want to clamp down on as part of this project.

“Criminal damage can be costly for the owner, and also inconvenient. Getting a vehicle repaired can often mean having to be without a way of getting about for several days.

“Everyone deserves to enjoy where they live and feel safe in their homes and we are not prepared to let any individuals threaten that.”

The scheme moved to the village on December 1, after a successful three-month trial on the Monkwick estate, in Colchester. It will focus on Tiptree until the middle of March.

It is a joint venture, involving Essex Police, Colchester Council street wardens and Essex County Council Trading Standards and Youth Service staff.

In Monkwick, it reduced antisocial behaviour by 24 per cent, compared to the same period the previous year, while crime fell by 16 per cent.