POLICE bosses say crime and anti-social behaviour could rise in Leigh this summer - but that they are prepared for it.

Inspector Paul Hogben of Essex Police has outlined what the police will be doing in Leigh as temperatures remain high and younger people finish school for the summer.

The plans come following a wave of issues in the town in the past few months, including numerous dispersal orders and a teenager being stabbed on Thursday.

Insp Hogben said: "We have identified key dates and events where we know the area is likely to be busy and ensure there is an increased police presence across the district.

“Our Operational Support Group (OSG) will continue to assist my team with visible, proactive patrols in the Old Leigh area.

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Patrolling Old Leigh High Street

“Recently we launched Project Servator in Southend and we are rolling that out into Leigh soon.

“It is a national programme which sees officers get specialist training and carry out what we call ‘unpredictable deployments’ with uniformed and plain-clothed officers, police dogs, drones, and CCTV.”

Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, has called for a different approach to tackling crime, as existing strategies "are not working".

Insp Hogben insists that crime remains low in Leigh.

He said: "There is a perception that crime is rife in the Leigh and Old Leigh areas but that’s just not the case.

“In the Leigh ward itself, in the year to the beginning of April there were 95 fewer crimes recorded – that’s 95 fewer victims.

“We have seen an increase in drugs possession offences but these are usually identified through positive, proactive police work such as the proportionate use of stop-and-search, warrants, and operations.

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The scene in The Broadway in Old Leigh on Thursday

“In April we saw the lowest number of reports of anti-social behaviour since November last year, and in April and May there we had no robberies or possession of offensive weapon offences."

He added: “In many incidents where violence is involved, like those we’ve seen in the Old Leigh and Southend areas recently, the parties involved know each other and the attacks are targeted.

“Often one or both is involved in some form of criminal activity. This means that if you’re a law abiding member of the public, you’re really unlikely to the victim of violent crime.”