Essex Police officers are on the move from the north to the south of the county.

Around 108 experienced officers will be shifted at the beginning of April to coincide with Essex taking over some of the Metropolitan areas in the south-east of the county.

However, the move does not mean officers moving from Harwich and Clacton to Southend - they will simply move to a neighbouring station.

Ch Insp Will Kennedy, from Southend police, said: "We will be getting around five officers from Rayleigh.

"Officers are being moved gradually south from the north of the county to create a knock-on effect which means they do not have to move the length of the county."

The shift has come about because the balance in the workforce had tipped over the years, with fewer experienced officers in the south.

The idea is to maintain a quality service for all parts of the county, including rural areas. Ch Insp Kennedy said: "It is basically a case of trying to re-distribute the manpower. We needed to create a balance between manpower and where officers are needed.

"The extra five from Rayleigh brings us up to speed in Southend and Rayleigh will get officers from further north in return."

All divisions across Essex, except Stansted, are affected by the changes.

Chief Constable David Stevens has admitted that some officers may not be happy about the move but said that when they joined Essex Police, it was on the understanding they would serve anywhere in the county.

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