Police have launched a major crackdown on street robberies in Southend as part of the Evening Echo's End The Violence campaign.

Detectives swung into action after revealing there had been an increase in street crime of nearly 36 per cent during the past year.

The figures, which cover the period from July to the end of September, have jumped drastically since the same time last year.

But police chiefs are eager to reassure the public the town is still a safe place to live and visit - despite recent incidents - stating crime figures for the corresponding three-month period last year were abnormally low.

Officers will be targeting mobile phone thieves and gangs of thugs who prey on unsuspecting victims, especially the elderly.

Det Chief Insp Alan Hurley, of Southend police, said: "We feel it is important for our residents to be made aware that, although we have seen an increase in robberies, the majority of offences have taken place on weekend nights, in and around central Southend.

"They often involve boys in their teens or early twenties approaching boys of the same age."

A spokeswoman for Southend police said: "There has been a steady increase - but we must stress the three-month period at the same time last year was abnormally quiet."

Published Tuesday November 5, 2002

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