114 stopped and searched during operation in Greenstead

Essex Police authorised the powers under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 from Friday afternoon to Sunday, allowing them to search residents without reasonable grounds.

A total of 114 people were searched over the 48 hours the extra powers were in place.

Two knives, a knuckle duster, cannabis and crack cocaine were recovered during the searches, and three men were arrested.

Superintendent John Hallworth said: “We know that Greenstead’s a small, close-knit community and our officers saw that over the weekend.

"Thank you to everyone who came up and spoke with us. I hope that our presence was helpful and, crucially, we made very few positive stop searches.

“We’re here for you – our officers still patrol the estate regularly, and we’ll continue to stop and search people if we have a suspicion that they’re committing crime against you and your community.

“Our job is to keep people safe from crime, and often we know that the answers lie in the local community.

"If you have any information about crime happening in your neighbourhood, I’d encourage you to report it online through our website, or dial 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.”

During the operations, Jordan Silifatu, 19, of Radbourne Crescent, Walthamstow, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article.

He will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 23 June.

On Saturday, a knuckle duster and six wraps of crack cocaine were recovered after a man was stopped. He was interviewed and enquiries are ongoing.

On the same day, two people were found to be in possession of cannabis. Cannabis warnings were issued.

A 39-year-old man was stopped in Forest Road on Saturday and arrested on suspicion of two thefts dating back to March this year.

He was also arrested on suspicion of possession of crack cocaine and has since been released under investigation as enquiries continue.