One in three crimes in Halstead over the past year has not resulted in a prosecution.

This is despite a 34% increase in the number of violent and sexual crimes in Halstead.

More than 100 of these serious offences were reported from January to October this year, compared to 96 in the same time frame in 2013 and 87 in these months in 2012.

There has also been an increase in burglaries, with 52 reported in the same months in 2012, 78 in 2013 and 98 in 2014.

However, statistics from police.uk, compiled by the Home Office, have revealed that in 67% of the 477 cases which happened in Halstead from November 2013 to October 2014, there was no further action taken.

A police spokesman said: "There are a number of different reasons why the police may get to a point of being unable to take any further action in respect of a criminal investigation."