A TRIO of new police officers are now on duty in Clacton town centre.

The three officers will be known as the Town Centre Team and will work alongside our existing Community Policing Team to engage with the local community in Clacton.

Intelligence gathered by local officers, feedback from members of the public and from local businesses have shaped the priorities for the team, which will include reducing the operations of county lines within the town centre, protecting the vulnerable, tackling anti-social behaviour, focusing on the prevention of street robberies and ensuring bars and clubs operate according to their licences.

The three officers will be led by Sergeant Alex Southgate, who will take the team on in addition to his role as Tendring Community Policing Team sergeant. They will join the Community Policing Team in supporting the Tendring Community Safety Partnership and joining in with local Street Action days and other community-focused events.

Acting Chief Insp Darren Deex, District Commander for Tendring, said: “I’m really excited to be helping Alex lead this new team into the summer of 2019.

“With Clacton being a coastal town, I’m sure that this increased police presence in our town centre will make a real difference for both locals and holidaymakers.

“They’ll be focusing on the issues that we know are prominent in Clacton, like the antisocial behaviour and street drinking in the town centre, as well as the ongoing threat of drug dealing in the town and how this targets the most vulnerable members of our society.

“With the support of the entire Community Policing Team and other policing teams within the district, and ongoing partnership working with the Community Safety Partnership, residents associations and the outstanding local support systems and charities in our area, I know the Town Centre Team will make a real impact.

“I am confident that this team will not only provide a visible presence in the town centre and local communities but will also support businesses and the local authority in creating a safer town centre and prevent crime and disorder on your doorstep.”

Tendring Community Safety Partnership chairman Lynda McWilliams said: “This new team is a welcome addition to the existing work carried out by Essex Police and partners in Clacton town centre.

“They will bolster and complement the work of our new anti-social behaviour officer, which we are currently recruiting to, as well as the previously announced summer policing initiative we are jointly funding with Essex Police, and work closely with other council services such as licensing.”

Essex Police’s investment in more policing in town centres will place officers in 23 locations across the county to deal with the issues on your doorstep.

As part of the force’s dedication to visible, frontline officers, the 58 constables will tackle the most prominent issues in local communities, making for a safer county and stronger relationships with the public.

The Town Centre Team constables will be assigned to Braintree, Chelmsford, Clacton, Colchester, Harwich, Maldon, Saffron Walden, South Woodham Ferrers and Witham in the north of Essex.

In the south of the county, officers will be servicing Basildon, Billericay, Canvey, Rayleigh, Rochford, Southend and Wickford.

Finally, the teams in the west will be based in: Brentwood, Grays, Harlow, Loughton, South Ockendon, Stanford-le-Hope and Waltham Abbey.