Essex Police will be carrying out a pre-Christmas crime blitz across the Chelmsford district to tackle offenders before the festive period.

This will include activity focused on a number of key crime areas, such as executing search and arrest warrants, additional patrols in the city centre and surrounding rural areas, and an operation targeting safety in the night time economy over a two week period starting from Monday.

District Commander for Chelmsford and Maldon, Chief Inspector Ronnie Egan, said: "This focused activity marks an intensified effort of the work we do every day.

"We often see a rise in crimes such as burglaries and domestic assaults in the festive period and this activity will see us take a pre-emptive strike to tackle offenders, reduce crime and provide reassurance and safety to the community of the district.”