THE number of violent crimes committed in Maldon has risen by 35 per cent in a year, new figures reveal.

Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Heard is holding a public meeting at Plume Academy in Fambridge Road on Tuesday alongside new district commander Ronnie Egan.

Figures released ahead of the meeting show there have been 290 reports of violence with injury and 425 incidents of violence without injury.

This was a 12 per cent increase of violence with injury and an increase of 23.2 per cent of violence without injury.

Reports of crime increased by 9.6 per cent with dwelling burglary up 64.7 per cent and criminal damage including arson up 26.4 per cent.

However, figures for shoplifting went down by 31.4 per cent, with 27 fewer offences and anti-social behaviour was down by 10.3 per cent with 117 fewer reports.

The briefing report said Maldon remained a “safe place” with the lowest crime figures in Essex.

It added violent crime figures were in line with other UK forces with 42 out of 43 seeing increases in non-injury violence.

The report said: “This category of violent crime has seen an increase nationally due to changes in the recording process, which has resulted in previously unrecorded crimes such as harassment and malicious communications being added.”

Maldon councillor Mark Heard said: “I keep on hearing adverse comments from residents of Maldon District complaining about the level of police cover.

"This is a great opportunity to have your say.

“I‘ll be asking why we are paying the least amount of money in the whole country for our police services.

"I don’t know of anyone who is not prepared to pay more for an improved service.

"I want to know why our detection rate is so low and I want to know why crime is rising in the district.”

The meeting takes place from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.