CRIME is rising while the numbers being solved are falling in Essex.

Victim satisfaction with the service is also down as Essex Police struggle to cope with the cuts.

Mark Smith, chairman of the Essex Police Federation, said: “It is quite clear what we are being told by politicians is not true.

“They say crime is down, it is not. It is on the up and we aren’t even recording new crimes like cyber crime and grooming.

“We have already had cuts of £72.5million and we have heard in the next five years we are going to have to save another £80million.

“We will probably lose 200 officers this year so will have gone from 3,600 to 3,000.

“In five years there will only be about 2,000 if all the cuts go ahead.”

A report from the office of the police and crime commissioner compared crime rates in 2013 and 2014.

See a two page special report in today's Gazette with reaction from Essex Police and Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston.