AN UPSURGE in violent crime fuelled by gangs of drug dealers entering Tendring has boosted overall figures by a tenth over the past year, according to Essex Police figures.

A briefing paper prepared for tomorrow’s Police and Crime Commissioner meeting in Brightlingsea, said in the year to April 30, Tendring district recorded 10,034 crimes, an increase of 879 or 9.6% on the previous year.

Violence with injury crimes increased 161 or 14.5% to 1273 and violence without injury crimes increased 449 or 31% to 1898.

Pier Ward in Clacton is Tendring’s most violent area with 238 offences, compared with 1 in Alresford and 47 in Brightlingsea. Almost a third of recorded violent crime is domestic related.

Dwelling burglaries increased by 50 or 11.2% to 496 and other burglaries increased by 20 or 3.1% to 671.

However, robberies fell 14.9% to 74, theft of pedal bikes dropped 20.2% to 130, shoplifting incidents fell 3.0% to 1013 and other theft fell 4.9% to 983.

“The increase in gang related violence has been a significant factor,” it said.

“Most of these incidents have occurred within rival criminal groups; local people going about their lawful business in the district do not appear to have been significantly affected.”

The arrival of Liverpool-based gangs has caused a spike in knife crime and robbery, with northern gangs preferring firearms. High profile arrests have occurred, reducing hostility between the gangs.

New criminal groups have been giving away free samples of Class A drugs to rival customers to secure their loyalty and future custom.

The report also noted an increase of 21 sexual offences to 278, blamed on “a spike” in such crimes early last summer.

“A man was found to be approaching young men who were then indecently assaulted. A number of arrests were then made, proactive overt and covert patrols were undertaken and the crime pattern then stopped. There has been no repeat of this series of crimes,” it said.

Detectives have also recently prosecuted a man who was holding crime victims against their wishes, retaining their passports and forcing them into acts of crime.

“Locations such as a car was and caravans were used by this criminal group to exploit people whilst they worked and resided in the district.”

Police plan events to tackle ‘modern day slavery’ with the UK Border Agency who will be looking at car washes, nail bars and market garden sites, seeking people who may be suffering from various forms of exploitation, including violence, coercion, financial and emotional forms of abuse.

The report also said crime patterns are being monitored around Brightlingsea and Frinton.

The high streets of Manningtree and Clacton are a proving a “challenge” with burglaries of shops and businesses, often resulting from a brick simply being thrown through the window.

Commissioner Roger Hirst will meet with residents from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Brightlingsea Community Centre on Lower Park Road , Brightlingsea. He will be joined by Tendring District Commissioner Insp Russ Cole and Ian Davidson, chief executive of Tendring District Council.