NEW figures have revealed a south Essex area saw the biggest decrease in reports of personal robbery across the entire county.

New figures from April to June this year compared with the same period last year has shown a 17 per cent drop in reports across the county as the force cracks down with covert operations and high-visibility patrols in hotspot areas.

Personal robbery is defined as theft from a person with the use of force or a threat of force. 

The county's biggest decrease was in the Rochford district, with reports plummeting by 75 per cent. Southend and Castle Point have also seen significant reductions of 37 per cent and 45 per cent respectively.

The new figures cement a 10 per cent reduction in reports of personal robbery in the last 12 months, with 145 fewer offences compared to last year and a 20 per cent reduction compared to five years ago.

Superintendent Tim Tubbs, Essex Police's strategic lead for robbery, said: “Seeing a substantial fall in personal robbery across the county shows that our operations are working and our hard work to tackle this type of offending is having an impact.

“But I want to be very clear, one robbery is one too many. We will continue with our efforts to bring the numbers down.

“'We are using tactics ranging from covert operations to carrying out visible patrols and empowering our communities by sharing crime prevention advice.

“Not only are we seeing fewer robberies being committed, but when an incident is reported to us, we are bringing more people before the courts.”

Last month a man admitted robbing a teenage boy of his bike in Southend, having been arrested just 30 minutes after committing the offence. 

Supt Tubbs added: “We understand the impact robbery can have. And while the risk of being impacted by this crime is very low, we know that is no comfort if you have been a victim and that is why we continue to drive forward with our work to tackle this type of offending.”