RESIDENTS in Maldon will have the chance to have a chat with police officers next week.

Essex Police have set up a Coffee with Cops morning on Monday, August 6 at The Ice Box, Kiosk 7 in Promenade.

The meeting, from 10am to 11am, will enable members of the public to ask questions about what the police are doing to tackle crime in rural areas.

This is part of a wider study on rural crime which will be released in a few weeks detailing areas of improvement.

Chief Inspector, Ian Gennery, who leads the rural team said: “We now have specialist teams tackling rural crime and building awareness of enforcement action but also crime prevention.

“Crime in rural areas affects both businesses and people, meaning rural areas suffer domestic violence, drug offences and cybercrime as well as what we might think of as ‘traditional’ rural crime like fly-tipping and hare coursing.

“I need people living in rural areas who are concerned about crime to do three things.

“Firstly, if you experience a crime, I need you to report it to us online, by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.

“We cannot stop or prevent what we don’t know is happening.

“Second, talk to us. We hold regular engagement events online and in person.

“And third, help us. We have a mix of specialist teams, local officers and Special constables keeping rural Essex safe, but the help we get from groups like Farm Watch, Neighbourhood Watch, Parish Safety Volunteers and dog walkers and horse riders is incalculable.”

The Essex specific results from the Rural Crime Survey are due to be released within the next two weeks and will published at www.essex.pfcc.police.uk.