crime increased by 6 per cent in Colchester in January, according to the latest police incident map.

Most crimes were again carried out in the town centre, followed by Greenstead and High Woods.

The website says there were 522 crimes in the Colchster town centre area in January – up from 489 the previous month.

The map reveals particular hot-spots for crime in January were Petrolea Close and Parnell Close, Greenstead’s Honeysuckle Way and Booth Avenue, as well as Haven Road, Hythe, which saw four violent incidents.

Most crimes in the town centre were committed in East Stockwell Street, which included shoplifting, criminal damage and antisocial behaviour.

The statistics show there were fewer violent incidents in Queen Street compared to the previous month, but there was an increase in East Stockwell Street, which saw eight violent attacks.

A spokesman for Essex Police said the website will give residents a better understanding of local crime and disorder, but residents and councillors in Greenstead criticised the maps as the statistics cover a one-and-a half-mile radius from the centre of the estate.

The Home Office said the demand for the website had been “incredible” – last month there were 382 million hits.