Saffron Walden MP Kemi Badenoch has welcomed the news that 500 extra police officers have been recruited in Essex since September 2019 - bringing the total up to a record high of 3,816.
Almost 21,000 new officers have been recruited across the country, with Essex police, fire and crime commissioner Roger Hirst confirming that Essex Police is now "larger and stronger than it has ever been".
Mrs Badenoch said: "Having recently attended a police ride-along and spoken to local farmers about the impact of rural crime, I know just how valuable these police officers will be for our constituency and the wider Essex county.
"There are now a record 3,800 officers in Essex, more police officers than ever before.
"I will continue to work closely with our policing teams here across Chelmsford and Uttlesford as we work to cut rural crime, anti-social behaviour in our towns and villages and keep our local communities safe."
Antisocial behaviour is down across Essex by 55 per cent since 2015, while burglary is down by 49 per cent, and there have been further significant reductions in theft and homicide.
Commissioner Roger Hirst said: "The Government’s National Police Uplift Programme has made a real difference here in Essex. Essex Police is now by far the biggest it has ever been.
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"That has meant that we can deliver on the Government’s priority to Get Crime Down. Our new Town Centre Teams, our Problem-Solving Teams, the boost to Neighbourhood Policing and the new Rural Engagement Team have all helped reduce crime.
"Homicide has been halved since 2016, as has burglary, and anti-social behaviour has been cut by 55 per cent.
"Working with this Conservative Government we are delivering on what matters to you and keeping Essex residents safe.
"Safe and secure communities are the bedrock on which we build prosperity and well-being for everyone."
The new officers are part of a wider plan by the Government to tackle crime across the nation.
This plan also means record funding for the police, and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act tackling hare coursing, illegal traveller camps and disruptive protests.
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