Crime targets for police officers have been scrapped, it has been revealed.

Essex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Nick Alston said he has replaced the targets with the basic aim of reducing all crime with immediate effect.

The move follows claims by Metropolitan Police whistleblower, James Patrick, who claimed figures are routinely manipulated to meet targets.

Mr Alston said: “We need reliable data to work from. If officers have a target of bringing down certain types of crime they may report incidents differently to massage the figures favourably.

“For instance, someone may damage a door while trying to break in to a home but get scared off before they can enter.

“This should be classed as attempted burglary but could also be recorded as criminal damage if an officer knows their force is trying to reduce burglaries.”

Earlier this month writing on his blog, Mr Alston said a number of officers had told him there was a “performance culture” in the Essex force and targets on individual officers had made working efficiently more difficult.

Crime figures will continue to be analysed by Mr Alston and Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh in order to identify areas to focus resources on.

“We will still need to focus on problem areas and more reliable data will help us do that,” Mr Alson added.

“Crimes such as drug possession have risen in recent months, which show officers are out there doing their jobs.

“These crimes are only recorded if officers are stopping people. There are no victims who alert the police in these cases.

“I don’t know categorically if it’s going up because of policing but we are an outlier now which says to me police are doing their job.”

Mr Alston was also keen to dismiss some findings of a report by ex-Met Police commissioner, Lord Stevens, who called for PCCs to be abolished in 2015 as part of widespread reform of policing.

Lord Stevens said the PCC system had “fatal systematic flaws” and called for more power to be given to councillors and local authorities.

However, Mr Alston accused Lord Stevens of “confused thinking” and insisted the model was improving public accountability.

The Labour Party, which commissioned the Stevens report, said it is likely to implement the “vast majority” of its recommendations.

The Conservatives have pledged to increase the power of PCCs.