A Suffolk police chief has said recent serious crimes including three suspected murders have "placed a strain" on resourcing, but the force has the "right skills" to deal with them.
Officers are currently investigating a trio of alleged murders - the death of Anita Rose in Brantham on July 24, the stabbing of Courtney Mitchell in Ipswich on August 6 and the death of a man in Felixstowe last weekend.
Eamonn Bridger, Assistant Chief Constable at Suffolk police, has said police are working "incredibly hard" to deal with these cases, as well as other serious incidents.
"It does place a strain on our resourcing but we have got the right skills to deal with the crimes that are in front of us," he said.
"We've had to take some pretty big steps around modifying people's working patterns, changing the way that some of our teams have worked.
"Our staff have stepped up brilliantly and always do in these circumstances.
"We've got a buoyant workforce that are working incredibly hard," he added.
ACC Bridger said staff are working extended hours, with people from the east and west of the county being brought in to aid investigations and everything being reviewed daily.
He added that events like Latitude Festival and the new football season also call for a larger police presence to be mobilised.
ACC Bridger's words come after 57-year-old Ms Rose was found injured and unconscious by a member of public on a track road near Rectory Lane in Brantham, at about 6.25am on July 24.
Ms Rose had head and facial injuries and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, but she died four days later.
To date, police have arrested and bailed three people in connection with this incident - two on suspicion of murder and one on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown revealed over the first two weeks of the investigation more than 630 people were spoken to and 90 statements were taken.
Those with information on the death of Ms Rose are asked to contact Suffolk police, quoting 37/41580/24.
Last Tuesday, Miss Mitchell, a mother of three, was stabbed in Ipswich, leading to a cordon being put in place in Burrell Road.
Emergency services were called to the road near the railway station shortly after 7.10pm following reports that a woman had been stabbed.
Despite their efforts, the 26-year-old died a short time later in hospital.
Logan Burnett, 27, of All Saints Road in Ipswich, was arrested last Wednesday on suspicion of murder and taken to Martlesham police investigation centre for questioning.
He was charged and appeared at Suffolk Magistrates' Court and Ipswich Crown Court later in the week, and his case was adjourned to November 25.
A 35-year-old man was arrested on Monday on suspicion of assisting an offender in connection with the fatal stabbing.
The man was taken to Martlesham police investigation centre where he was released on bail with conditions to return to police on October 12.
A third suspected murder took place in Felixstowe at the weekend.
Police attended an incident in the town on Saturday after being called by the ambulance service at 9.21pm to a report of an assault with one person believed to have been injured.
The incident is reported to have taken place at about 9.20pm on the seafront promenade by Undercliff Road West.
Police were then called by the ambulance service at 10.30am on Sunday to a property in Carr Road where the injured person, a man aged in his 20s, had been found dead.
Officers arrested a 28-year-old man from Felixstowe on Monday on suspicion of murder.
He was also taken to Martlesham police investigation centre for questioning, where he remains.
ACC Bridger said another key focus of Suffolk police was locating Daryl Taylor, 33, from Ipswich, who escaped from police while at Ipswich Hospital receiving treatment on Sunday night.
A Crimestoppers UK Most Wanted poster stated he is "wanted in connection with sexual offences involving children" and a reward of up to £5,000 for information on his whereabouts has been issued.
ACC Bridger said: "Anyone with any information around any of the major crime appeals that we have got standing, they need to come forward.
"Give us that intelligence either confidentially or in a way that can be used in evidence."
He said he believed people knew where Taylor was and urged them to tell police.
Daryl Taylor has now been apprehended by Suffolk Police.
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