A SUMMER crackdown on antisocial behaviour in Clacton will take place again this year.

Tendring Council and Essex Police have each committed £10,000 towards the operation, which recognises the additional challenges brought by the busy tourist season in the resort.

Essex Police said there is a “natural increase” of criminal activity during the summer and the initiative will provide reassurance for the local community that criminals are being deterred and dealt with.

There will be additional high visibility policing during the day and evenings throughout July and August.

Insp Darren Deex, who leads the Tendring Community Policing Team, said: “This operation, paid for with significant funds, will we hope not only put the public at ease, but also allow them to support the police and the work they do.

“As the population in Clacton increases over the summer due to tourism it is only natural the crime rate should rise, and this is about responding to that.”

“I am confident we can keep people in Clacton safe over the summer, just as we do year-round.”

The operation will target those causing trouble, and some patrols will be joined by accredited officers from the council.

Last year a similar operation saw 19 arrests and 26 people stop-searched, with a total of 560 hours of additional high visibility patrols carried out. It led to a 29 per cent drop in anti-social behaviour incidents.

Crime figures for the period of the operation compared to the previous year saw robbery offences fall 40 per cent and violence with injury crimes go down six per cent, while shop theft fell by 20 per cent and anti-social behaviour incidents reduced by 29 per cent.

Lynda McWilliams, the council’s cabinet member responsible for community safety, said it made sense to repeat the operation.

“Following on from the success of last year, I am pleased that this operation will be returning in 2019,” she said.

“With additional high visibility patrols, public confidence will increase and residents, businesses and visitors should feel safer.”