A dramatic drop in crime has been seen in Tendring but more work still needs to be done.
Chief Supt Dick Madden said reported crime had fallen to its lowest in years before Christmas.
But he added that problems of car crime and criminal damage needed tackling.
At a Harwich Crime Prevention Panel meeting last night he said: "Overall, in crime aspects, there are two key areas in which we are underachieving and need to improve.
"There needs to be a reduction of vehicle crime offences and criminal damage.
"We need to develop some form of strategy in the new financial year to try to deal with criminal damage, theft of motor vehicles and theft from motor vehicles."
He said if the two areas of crime were targeted, crime rates would fall and detection levels would improve.
Mr Madden said the Tendring Crime and Disorder Partnership was looking at ways to crack the problems and invited the crime prevention panel to come up with initiatives.
He said: "Tendring is the safest place in Essex to live but we need to sort these areas out."
Mr Madden said since he joined the division six months ago, he had seen a huge drop in complaints about call handling.
Published Friday, January 10, 2003
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