A BLITZ on crime has seen police arrest some of Tendring’s “most wanted” suspects in a week-long crackdown on crime.

Police launched the clampdown on criminals – codenamed Operation Galley – in a bid to tackle a shock crime rise of 16 per cent across the Tendring area.

Violent crime, including domestic violence, has risen by 14 per cent and police officers in the district have dealt with an extra 366 offences so far this year.

The operation, which started on Monday, has seen additional patrols throughout the day and night, and arrests being made.

On Tuesday night, police arrested 10 ten suspects in Clacton, Frinton and Harwich – with some in the police’s top 100 most wanted group.

They are suspected of being involved with drug and gang crime.

Chief Insp Russ Cole said some people who are involved in drugs are committing between 10 ten and 20 offences per day in the area.

Last week he received information that three people the Metropolitan Police are looking for moved into the Clacton area.

Mr Cole said: “We put Operation Gallery together as there is a crime increase of 16 per cent across the board and even motor vehicles thefts have gone up.

“With our week of action we have a got a good idea of who has been thieving from vehicles because people leave fingerprints from the crime.

“We have captured all the fingerprint information and we have gone through our books, so we have good arrest packages for people who are outstanding.”

Officers have also checked 1,400 vehicles in Frinton, Manningtree and Harwich this week.

On Tuesday, a total of 12 arrests were made. Two drivers were dealt with for not having insurance and eight drivers had to be taken off the road for offences.

On Monday, six arrests were made, two tickets were given out for mobile phone offences while driving and four drivers were dealt with for no insurance. Cautions and charges were also given to 15 people.

Police officers have been working with other bodies across the area, including Trading Standards, to target knife crime and illegal alcohol sales.

Mr Cole added: “The message I want to give out is that if you have committed a crime in Tendring recently and you might be sitting there with a false sense of security thinking you have got away – think again.”