Essex Police have said they only have the capacity to respond to “half” of the 1,200 incidents they are called to daily.

The statistics were released after residents complained police were not attending burglaries across Thurrock.

Police also said the number of 101 calls police are receiving has shot up by 22,000 since last year, a big increase for the last six months of 2015, compared to the last six months of 2014.

Essex PCC Nick Alston, MP Stephen Metcalfe and Chief Inspector Leigh Norris attended a standing-room only meeting ‘SS17 Against Crime’ to discuss the reported “spike” in burglaries in Stanford and Corringham over the Christmas period.

The public meeting was called on January 23 to address community fears.

A spokesman for Essex Police said burglary remained a ‘priority’.

He said: “We are called to 1,200 incidents every day and have the capacity to respond to around half of that number so we must prioritise the calls we go to first to make sure that those who are in gravest danger, at risk or vulnerable are seen first.

“Burglary remains a priority for the Force and in the overwhelming majority of cases either a police officer or crime scene investigator will attend.

“The number of 101 calls that we receive has increased by 22,000 when comparing the last six months of 2015 against the previous year and this means that people have had to wait longer for a response but we are already looking to address this.”

The body added that they were fighting to keep the number of PSCOs in Stanford and Corringham to 10, after plans to slash them from 38 to 6.

A spokesman for the body said they were ‘committed to maintaining the grass roots policing of our communities’.

He said: “There will be fewer police officers and PCSOs on our streets going forward due to reductions in police funding.

“But we will continue to patrol the Stanford and Corringham areas and send our officers to where they can do most good, using intelligence to deal with any emerging crime hotspots.”

The police said the plan for a precept rise to retain 10 PSCOs in Thurrock had been requested by PCC Nick Alston and was currently awaiting approval.