TOP level talks have been held about how to tackle violent crime in Colchester.

MP Will Quince arranged a meeting with Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington and police, fire and crime commissioner Roger Hirst after a chaotic spell in Colchester town centre where a man was found stabbed to death, another was knifed in an attack believed to be related and a third man had boiling water hurled at him within 200 metres.

The Conservative first raised the issue with policing minister Nick Hurd and Vicky Atkins, the minister for crime, safeguarding and vulnerability, them Gazette coverage of the incidents.

A further summit has now been held and the MP has been given assurances about steps being taken to tackle violence.

Speaking afterwards he said: "At the meeting we discussed the rise in serious violent crime in Essex and the concerns around the rise in knife crime.

"Our Chief Constable set out the steps Essex Police are taking and the Home Secretary set out the steps being taken by the Home Office.

"Essex has recently received £644,000 in government funding as part of the youth intervention fund to help tackle youth violence, drugs, gangs and county lines.

This has been supported by Essex County Council with £500,000 and £240,000 from Colchester Council.

"We also discussed the importance of the early intervention youth endowment fund – the biggest early intervention fund ever and Essex has been invited to apply when that scheme opens.

"I also reiterated my calls for weapons awareness seminars in our schools to warn of the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife.

"Finally, we discussed police funding and how Essex is set to recruit a further 218 officers this year, in addition to the 150 additional officers last year."

Mr Quince said he raised how Colchester residents were worried about violent incidents.

He added: "I raised the concerns of my constituents and how many in Colchester want to see further investment in Essex Police.

"We all want to see serious violence in Essex reduce.

"I promised to do all I could to tackle criminality, and am confident by building on the work of this high level meeting and bringing together the key people, we can bring about the change we all want to see in Colchester."