As the summer approaches and lockdown restrictions are due to be eased further, Essex Police's Maldon community policing team and Maldon District Council's community engagement team have said that they are looking forward to meeting more residents while they're out and about on patrol.

The teams have been working closely together over the last year to tackle local problems with crime and anti-social behaviour, and keep people safe.

They often carry out joint patrols, particularly in Maldon's Promenade Park and on the Dengie Peninsula.

Anti-social behaviour, such as groups of young people drinking alcohol or smoking cannabis in Prom Park and drivers wheel-spinning in the car parks, tends to increase in the summer.

Jim Brunt, community engagement co-ordinator at Maldon District Council, said: "Anything we see that's suspicious, we pass information over to the Community Policing Team and the Road Crime Team, and they do the same likewise.

"We patrol from Maldon to Tollesbury, and we are the eyes and ears for the police.

"In the 13 years I've been doing this job, people talk to us and give us information about any concerns they have, and we'll share this with the police so we can tackle any problems."

One example of their work was residents and Community Engagement Officers reporting suspected drug dealing by the canal in Holloway Road to the police, who made an arrest.

Jim said: "We say the more and more you report crime, the more we know what's happening in your area. If you don't report it, we don't know."

You can submit a report online using the link here. or use the 'Live Chat' button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm. Alternatively, you can call 101.

Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or using the link here.