SOUTEHND'S top cop says her team is "learning from mistakes" after antisocial behaviour in the city plunged by over a third. 

Chief Insp Jo Collins, Southend’s District Commander, says "maintaining the trust of the community remains her top priority" as Essex Police said crime rates had dropped across the city.

Chief Inspector Jo Collins, Southend's District CommanderChief Inspector Jo Collins, Southend's District Commander (Image: Essex Police)

Across Southend, the force says crime has dropped by 9.6 per cent with 1,940 fewer offences recorded in the year to the end of April.

Antisocial behaviour has plunged by over a third, at 34.6 per cent, over the same period.

It comes as a survey of Southend residents showed 80 per cent expressed confidence in the capacity of law enforcement, terming the service as good or excellent.

Officers on an Op Union patrol along Marine ParadeOfficers on an Op Union patrol along Marine Parade (Image: Essex Police)

Chief Insp Collins said: "When I became District Commander in 2022, I spoke about building local relationships for the benefit of everyone in the district.

“I wanted to challenge the perception that we were only focused on the seafront, increase confidence, and show people that we understood their issues and were there to help them.

"We have worked hard to be visible.

"We are running more engagement events in more places than ever before and the feedback from residents has been encouraging.

"Maintaining the trust of the community remains my top priority."

Despite the drop in crime rate, Southend has not been free from trouble.

Last summer saw hundreds of teenagers cause havoc as businesses were forced to close early.

Videos and pictures showed gangs running amok along Southend seafront in “scary” scenes.

However, Essex Police say major strides have also been made through significant policing initiatives, with Operation Union resulting in 23 arrests for crimes including assault and drug possession.

The Town Centre Team's Operation Raker, which targets the most frequent offenders, has led to 50 prosecutions.

But Chief Insp Collins added: "We know we don’t always get it right.

"When mistakes have been made, we learn from them.

"We have an excellent Independent Advisory Group (IAG) who hold us to account and suggest what we could do better."

Improved responses to antisocial behaviour in areas such as York Road and Hamlet Court Road have also been implemented.

Chief Insp Collins said: "We are doing all we can to make sure people in Southend are safe and have the confidence to contact us if they need help."