CANVEY is a low-crime area, despite a recent spate of armed robberies, worried islanders have been assured.

The message came out of meeting between county and town councillor Ray Howard, town councillor Dave Blackwell and Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston to discuss policing on Canvey.

Last month, three separate armed robberies were reported within the space of a week.

Mr Blackwell, leader of the Canvey Independent Party, has been urging a stronger police presence to help reassurance to worried islanders.

He said: “I did raise fears and rumours we were going to have our PCSO numbers scaled down.

“Mr Alston looked at it and said we were already a bit worse off for officers, compared to elsewhere, but he said it was a low crime area.

“I told him, ‘you need to tell people on Canvey that, because they won’t believe you’.

“However, overall, it was a constructive meeting and Mr Alston said he would take some action.”

Figures for the year ending September 2014 show the number of crimes reported in Castle Point is significantly less than the county average.

Castle Point had the fourth fewest crimes per head of population of Essex’s 14 policing areas, with 39.39 crimes recorded per 1,000 people.

In comparison, Basildon had 68.44 crimes per 1,000 people, while Southend had 73.92.

Rochford was the county’s lowest-crime area, with 33.29 per 1,000 residents.

Figures also suggest the borough’s crime rate has declined steadily since 2011.

However, Mr Howard said recent events had affected the confidence of residents.

He said: “We had a very positive meeting. Nick Alston realises there are problems on Canvey and he seems to be very supportive.”

The three men discussed the recent armed robberies and Mr Howard said he had been pleased with the commissioner’s response.

He added: “Are local people responsible for these? I think Mr Alston’s view is that they were, so these people have to be caught.

“Police are giving it major attention, because this takes confidence away and you don’t want people to lose confidence.

“We want people to be assured they are protected.”

COMMISSIONER PROMISES TO PASS CONCERNS TO DISTRICT COMMANDER

LACK of money means fewer police and PCSOs are now regularly patrolling Canvey, Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston had explained.

Mr Alston said he had raised the recent armed robberies on the island with Castle Point’s district commander.

Issues raised at last week’s meeting included the way officers responded to road accidents, noisy scrambler bikes, former offenders living on the island, the county council’s streetlights blackout and antisocial behaviour at Canvey Wick.

Mr Alston said: “There’s real local support for the excellent work PCSOs undertake on Canvey.

“With the budget cuts, there are, sadly, fewer police officers and PCSOs, but it’s good to hear how valued and effective these local officers are.

“There have been a small number of robberies on Canvey in recent months.

“Robbery is a nasty crime, which often leavesalasting impact on the victim.

“I have raised the matter with the district commander, Chief Insp Lesley Ford, and I know officers are working hard to apprehend those responsible.

“I would encourage anyone with information about these crimes to contact Southend CID on 101, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.”

Echo:

The Co-op in Linden Way was raided last month

RECENT VIOLENT CRIME INCIDENTS

A WOMAN was threatened with a gun in Thorney Bay Road during one of three attempted armed robberies in the past month.

The victim refused to hand anything over when she was threatened on March 25. The suspect ran off towards Thorney Bay Caravan Park, but police were unable to find him.

Days before, staff at the Jet garage, in Somnes Avenue, and Ladbrokes, in High Street were threatened at knifepoint by robbers.

On March 8, two robbers threatened staff with a pistol, and stole £75 in cash from the Co-op store in Linden Way.

In February, Gold and Diamonds jewellers, in Furtherwick Road, was robbed of £15,000 of jewellery in February, prompting traders to consider hiring private security guards to patrol the town centre.

Owner Harry Awidikian admitted he felt lucky to be alive after the masked robber burst into his store in broad daylight, waving a 2ft machete.

After forcing Mr Awidikian and an assistant into a toilet, the hooded robber raided cabinets and fled with at least one accomplice in a getaway car.