REPORTS of knife crime have soared in Chelmsford, Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst has revealed.

The spike in criminal activity involving knives within the borough is owed largely to heightened levels of gang activity and drugs, according to the commissioner’s latest report.

Of the 608 cases police dealt with, 51 occurred in the Chelmsford borough between 2015 – 2016, This equates to a 25 per cent rise on last year.

The stats were unveiled to the Weekly News moments before Mr Hirst faced residents during a public meeting in Great Dunmow on Tuesday.

His report points the finger at gangs and drugs, with increasing numbers of offences spilling over from London.

The report said: “The movement of drug lines from London into the area has resulted in an increase in knife and other violent crime.

“This takes the form of attacks against rival drug dealing gangs or as a means of enforcing drug related debts.

“On 11 November 2015, 27-year- old Ladimeji “Ladi” Benson, was stabbed and killed during one such altercation in Baddow Road at the junction with Longfields Road, Great Baddow.

“As a result of this murder and other incidents, the profile of knife crimes has risen in Chelmsford.”

Increases in violence, sexual offences and theft, were also revealed, while overall crime in the borough has risen 12.6 per cent over the last year, and sexual offences increasing by 27.5 per cent. 

Violence without injury is up 42 per cent, violent with injury up 13.5 per cent and reports of motor vehicle theft had more than doubled to 55.6 per cent.

The anti-knife education charity, Only Cowards Carry, which works with police, recently secured a knife amnesty bin for Chelmsford near the police station.

The partnership has also delivered awareness training on gangs, drugs and knives to over 7,000 students in recent months.

Caroline Shearer, the charity’s chairman said the judicial system needs to hand out stronger sentences to deter knife carrying.

She added: “Of course, it’s a no brainer that we do need more police on the streets.

“Very often we have parents contact us from Chelmsford who are worried about their child being threatened by a gang.

“But we must remember Chelmsford is a good place and the police do the very best they can.

“I feel we need an overhaul of the system so those who carry knives are properly punished.”