Officers have started conducting extra patrols in the Limes Farm estate – the scene of a shooting last year – to reassure residents.

Essex Police were responding to concerns about drug dealing and violent crime.

Following a consultation with residents, police and Epping Forest District Council began patrols on June 10.

Officers carried out stop and searches and patrolled the area with the Park Guard, which works on behalf of the local authority.

A 36-year-old man from Middlesex was arrested for failing to appear at court for shoplifting.

Epping Forest district commander Ch Insp Denise Morrissey said: “There is not a significant issue with crime on the Limes Farm estate but there have been some concerns raised about drug dealing and there have been some isolated incidents of violent crime in recent years.”

On July 11 last year a man was shot in the Limes Avenue estate, known locally as the Yellow Block. Two men have been jailed in connection with the incident.

Ch Insp Morrissey continued: “We will be repeating the operation in the future as part of our ongoing efforts to disrupt gangs attempting to ply their trade our district and to ensure that residents feel safe going about their daily lives in our communities.

“We also rely on information from the community, which is important as it helps us shape our operations and work to tackle these issues.

“I’d ask anyone who has information, or concerns, to please contact us on 101. Or if they do not want to give their name, they can contact Crimestoppers, which is an independent crime-fighting charity, on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org”