Non-emergency crime can now be reported to Essex Police via the internet as front counters in Canvey and Rayleigh close today.

The webpage, www.essex.police.uk/doitonline, lets people report non-emergency crime, road traffic collisions and access a range of information and advice easily and conveniently.

Online reporting for lost or found property will be added during April.

Essex Police has also subscribed to the national ‘knowledge bank’ Ask The Police, also accessible at www.essex.police.uk/doitonline .

Ask the Police contains answers to hundreds of often-asked questions about policing from abandoned vehicles to youth issues.

Gareth Nicholson, head of communications at Essex Police, said: "With the huge growth we’ve seen in people using the internet for daily tasks like shopping as well as accessing services from councils to GPs online, it’s obvious that people need to be able to get police services online too.

"If the crime is happening now or you’re in danger, we still need you to call 999, but reporting a crime or a road traffic collision can now be done more conveniently than ever before.

"We want people who don’t need us in an emergency to think carefully about how they contact us and whether the information they’re looking for is already online because that gives officers more time to fight crime.”

Online reporting goes live on the same day that six police station front counters – South Ockendon, Brentwood, Loughton, Epping, Rayleigh and Canvey – have closed to the public.

Assistant Chief Constable Maurice Mason said: "I want to reassure people living in those towns that the commitment to keep them safe remains our absolute priority. The closure of public front counters will have no effect on our local patrols and ability to respond to calls for help.

Our job is to remain at the heart of our communities, but every expensive and outdated building which isn’t well-used by the public means fewer officers on patrol stopping crime and helping vulnerable people.”