ESSEX Police say they have found a reduction in knife possession by more than 20 per cent in Braintree district.

The findings follow targeted patrols in areas that have a higher probability of a violent incident, as part of Operation Grip.

Using crime data, 15 Operation Grip hotspot areas were identified in Essex, with one of these areas being in Braintree.

The patrols see uniformed officers go out on “short, sharp foot patrols” to prevent violence crime, deter offending and catch people carrying weapons.

The officers also proactively engage with the community and identify areas where improvements could be made with issues like street lighting and CCTV coverage to reduce the possibility of crime and help people feel safer.

Patrols - Officers have been been in targeting hotspots for violence crime in Essex Patrols - Officers have been been in targeting hotspots for violence crime in Essex (Image: Essex Police) In Essex, targeted patrols in areas that have a higher probability of a violent incident have led to 66 arrests, 103 stop searches and the seizure of 11 weapons in the past three months, as of November 15.

Operation Grip is funded by the Home Office and has led to the purchase of a state-of-the-art OpenGate weapons detection system.

Det Chief Insp Ian Hughes of the Serious Violence Unit said: “We target our high-harm hotspots using a variety of tactics to reduce incidents of violence and catch the people who are responsible for causing harm.

“Through our analysis, we are making sure we are getting our officers in the right places at the right times.

“Alongside our high-visibility patrols, we’re building relationships with the local community, holding engagement events and having conversations people that live and work in those areas to help identify issues that we can work with our partners to tackle.”