POLICE have arrested almost 50 people for drug possession in Maldon this past year.

Officers from the Maldon Community Policing Team have been carrying out focused patrols in Promenade Park and throughout the area, where during a 12-month period up until February 2019, reports of drug related activity have increased by 30.5 per cent on the previous year.

The figures showed that arrests for drugs possession had risen from 36 to 47.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "The Promenade Park is regularly patrolled by officers from our Maldon Community Policing Team, who have used stop and search powers to help combat crime, disrupt offenders and gather intelligence.

"They work closely with officers from our Local Policing Team and Operation Raptor to relentlessly pursue those criminals who think they can come to our communities to sell drugs or commit gang-related crime.

"Last month we launched Operation Negate to deal with drug dealing across the Chelmsford and Maldon district.

The operation has been successful with over 15 people arrested and five people charged for possession with intent to supply drugs."

Police added that six people were arrested for possession with intent to supply.

Maldon District Council are working closely with the police to continue cracking down on drug possession and supply in Maldon.

The number of arrests for drugs offences in Maldon district has risen from 44 to 53 between 2017-18 and 2018-19.

An around 20 per cent rise year on year.

A council spokesman said: "Any drug related matters are reported to Essex Police in the first instance.

"If community protection officers (CPOs) receive a report of drug dealing or any anti-social behaviour (ASB) they liaise with, and pass this information on, to the local policing teams."

"The CPOs will also look at adding extra patrols to this area.

"With respects to Promenade Park, our CPOs have received reports of suspicious behaviour at the Promenade Park car park and this information has been passed to Essex Police."

If you spot any suspicious behaviour in your area, report it to Maldon police station on 101.

You can also report information online by visiting www.essex.police.uk/do-it-online or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.