The District Commander for Chelmsford and Maldon has urged witnesses to come forward after a number of knife attacks in the area.

Chief Inspector Gerry Parker thanked residents through Maldon District and in Chelmsford for their help after some serious incidents have happened in the area including where a 19-year-old man was stabbed multiple times in Fox Crescent, Chelmsford on April 23, and after another 19-year-old man was attacked with a knife in Fitches Mews, Maldon on Easter Monday.

Chief Insp Parker told residents that the attacks being reported "appear to be targeted".

He said: "There is no current information to suggest a risk to the wider public.

“The majority of these attacks are being carried out by gang members in our city.

“We are doing all we can to make these gangs unwelcome and Chelmsford a hostile place to criminally operate.

“Whether it’s my Local or Community Policing Teams carrying out stop and searches, our gangs team, Op Raptor working to dismantle violent crime and drug supply, or detectives in CID working on investigations like this, we will continue to fight against these gangs who are trying to bring violence and drugs to our streets."

The Standard has been told by Essex Police that so far no one has been arrested or charged in connection with the incident in Maldon on April 22.

The victim was taken to hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

Chief Insp Parker said around a third of violent crime in Essex is gang-related.

He added that residents who are not involved in gangs or drugs culture, they are "relatively safe from incidents like this".

He said: "Violent crime is one of the grim realities that go hand in hand with gang culture.

"If you think it’s glamorous, you’re wrong.

"You will be exploited, you will arrested, you will be the victim of violence and you will be expected to perpetrate violence against others.

“I want to urge anyone involved in gangs to talk to us.

"We want you to find a way out, for your own sake, for the sake of your loved ones, for the sake of our local communities."

Chief Insp Parker hopes his teams in Chelmsford and Maldon will help to see "a decrease in violent crime like this".

In you have any information about the incidents in Maldon or Chelmsford, call 101.

You can also report information anonymously to Crimestoppers UK by clicking here.