HALSTEAD MP James Cleverly was in town with Essex police commissioner Roger Hirst on a fact-finding mission.

Mr Hirst joined the Home Secretary for a walkabout today as he outlined plans to make Halstead's streets safer.

The town has secured more than £450,000 for the Halstead Safer Streets project, which includes improved CCTV.

Mr Cleverly toured areas which will be affected by the scheme, including Ramsey Road, Mount Hill, Chapel Hill, Trinity Road, Halstead High Street, Bridge Street and Butler Road.

Mr Cleverly was also joined by Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington, Braintree Council leader Graham Butland and council stronger communities boss Mary Cunningham.

Mr Hirst said: “This walkabout was extremely valuable, offering all partners the chance to show the Home Secretary exactly how the Safer Streets funding will improve community safety in Halstead.

“Safe and secure communities are the bedrock on which we build success, prosperity and well-being for all.

"Since 2016 all of us together have invested in making our communities safer and this partnership approach has worked - the very latest figures show crime in Essex is down by 6.5 per cent and anti-social behaviour is down 37 per cent.”