Essex Police Dispatch - issue 70
20 years of search and rescue volunteer support, cadets visit the helicopter, keeping dogs safe, gang injunctions, drug dealers jailed. Extended 'we remember' and more news.
24 October to 30 October
Essex Search & Rescue mark 20 years of saving lives with Essex Police — www.essex.police.uk
ESAR are on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and have assisted police with 177 searches since the start of 2020. Read more.
Wickford: Drug dealer jailed — www.essex.police.uk
Work by specialist officers has led to a drug dealer been jailed for almost two-and-a-half years. Read more.
Colchester: Twin brothers and mum convicted in drug investigation — www.essex.police.uk
Two brothers and their mother have been convicted after a complex investigation carried out by our officers was able to prove that they had been supplying large quantities of illicit drugs across Colchester and surrounding areas. Read more.
Rayleigh: Man admits arson series — www.essex.police.uk
A man has admitted deliberately starting a series of fires in Rayleigh following an investigation by our officers. Read more.
Thurrock: Eight boys given interim gang injunctions — www.essex.police.uk
Specialist officers have secured interim gang injunctions against eight teenagers as part of our efforts to disrupt and dismantle gangs in Thurrock. Read more.
Colchester: Distillery Lane murder investigation — www.essex.police.uk
Detectives continue murder investigation following the death of a man on Distillery Lane, Colchester shortly before 2am on Monday 12 September. Read more.
Epping Forest: Cadets on the lookout for new recruits — www.essex.police.uk
Our Epping Forest Team are looking for young people aged between 13 - 18 to join our volunteer police cadet scheme. Read more.
Loughton: Two charged in burglary investigation — www.essex.police.uk
Two people have been charged as part of our response to an aggravated burglary which took place in Loughton. Read more.
Keeping our dogs safe in Essex — www.essex.police.uk
Find out what dog owners can do to help protect their pets and what we're doing to deter pet abduction and catch those responsible. Read more.
Tendring: Up to £100,000 of GPS farm equipment stolen — www.essex.police.uk
Officers investigating the theft of GPS systems from farms in the Tendring are asking for the public’s help to locate them. Read more.
Fobbing: Detectives thank pub staff for keeping customers safe — www.essex.police.uk
Detectives would like to thank staff at a pub in Fobbing after they alerted us to concerns for a woman’s welfare. Read more.
Four new Special Constables take their oaths — www.essex.police.uk
Four new members of our Special Constabulary have taken their oaths and will now take to the streets to protect and serve Essex. Read more.
Careers at Essex Police
Police Community Support Officer closing 8 January
Detention Officer closing 18 November
Press and Public Relations Officer closing 18 November
Quality of Service Officer closing 10 November
Geographical Facilities Team Leader closing 10 November
Athena Systems Officer closing 3 November
HR Resource Planning Assistant closing 2 November
Force Performance Analyst closing today
Business Services Assistant closing today
Resolution Centre Investigator
Contact Handler (full and part time)
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
Still time to join Essex Police — www.essex.police.uk
If you apply today, you could be joining us in early 2023 as part of our New Year cohort! Read more.
Obituaries
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Frederick (known as John) Croot who retired as a Sergeant in 1993 and served at Basildon, Rochford, Rayleigh, Great Dunmow, Saffron Walden and Stansted Airport. After retirement he re-joined as a civilian driver at Saffron Walden for 17 years. He passed away on the 2 October 2022 aged 78 years.
This week we remember
Wear your poppy with pride — www.essex.police.uk
At this time of year, we wear our poppies and commemorate British service members who have died in wars and other military conflicts since the onset of World War I. This week, we feature an extended entry for Herbert James Button who served as an Essex Police officer in Dovercourt and died serving King and country in World War 1. Read his story below.
Herbert James Button was born in Chelmsford and served with the Grenadier Guards before joining Essex County Constabulary from January 7, 1913.
He was stationed at Dovercourt where, just before the outbreak of war, he managed to halt a runaway horse that had bolted along the High Street, but only after he had been dragged some considerable distance.
Herbert was recalled to the colours and rejoined his colleagues with the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards at Chelsea Barracks. Two other Essex policemen, Percy Battle and Stapleton Hollett, were also reservists with the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards and were recalled at the same time.
The War Diary of the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards records:
1st November, 1914.
'Relieved from trenches near Klien-Zillebeke by French troops at 3am. Sent back about two miles and bivouacked for two or three hours. Ordered to march to support 2nd Brigade which was hard pressed and had line broken. Sent to clear wood of Klien-Zillebeke and to restore line. Cleared wood and entrenched at southern edge, close up to enemy. No food till very late. All very tired and short of sleep. 10 killed, 29 wounded, 8 missing.'
Herbert Button was killed in the action close to Shrewsbury Forest - 3 miles south-east from Ypres, Belgium. He died on November 1, 1914.
Before his death Herbert Button had written to his Inspector in Harwich. The letter was published in the Essex Weekly News on October 16, 1914.
"I am quite well and alive for the present, although perhaps not very safe. As I write, shells are whizzing over and bursting near. We are right in the thick of it here, and it's hot stuff. I have had some narrow escapes but have been lucky, although one never knows who may be next."
A further letter written by Herbert to Sergeant Borrer was published in the Essex County Chronicle on November 6, 1914, five days after his death.
"We are having a lovely time, been engaged in a battle here for a month. My first time under fire, a poor fellow in front of me got a piece of shell through his stomach that would have had me...I hope I may be lucky and come back again. They are fighting hard now, but are a dirty lot. They dress in our uniforms and come right up to our trenches and hoist the white flag and when we go to fetch them they open fire. Our battalion have lost heavily, my company alone has lost 180 now."
Herbert left behind his widowed mother. He is commemorated together with 54,895 others who fell in or around Ypres on the Menin Gate in Ypres. Every evening The Last Post is played by members of the local fire brigade as a tribute to those who gave their lives.
He is also commemorated on a memorial inside Chelmsford Cathedral to all parishioners who fell during The Great War.
Funding for Policing and Fire & Rescue Services 2023/24 — www.smartsurvey.co.uk
What more would you like the police to do in your area? What types of crime would you like them to prevent and detect? Have your say with the Police Fire & Crime Commissioner’s quick survey. Closes 27 November.