POLICE have been awarded £100,000 by the government to tackle knife crime during the next year.

Last year Essex Police was one of ten forces across the country chosen by the government to join an action programme designed to reduce knife crime.

Since the scheme began in 2008 the county has been identified as one of the safest in the country, with the lowest levels of knife crime compared to the other forces involved in the programme.

Superintendent Ewen Wilson, Head of Territorial Policing for Essex said: “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that knife crime in Essex remains low.

"Those responsible for committing such offences in Essex will be dealt with robustly – with the full weight of the criminal justice system.”