Essex Police Dispatch - issue 112
Essex Police Weekly Update
This week: Meet Chief Inspector Paul Ballard, the Chelmsford and Maldon District Commander and look ahead to the Clacton Airshow.
News 14 August to 20 August
Chelmsford & Maldon: Meet the District Commander, Chief Inspector Paul Ballard
Our top priority is to reduce violence within our communities and make them safer, he says. Read more.
Harlow: Man arrested over attempted car theft
A man has been arrested in connection with the attempted theft of a car in Harlow earlier this year. Read more.
Clacton: Officers rescues public from sea
A quick-thinking officer has rescued two members of the public who had got into trouble in the sea at Clacton. Read more.
Looking ahead to the Clacton Airshow
Our officers are looking forward to seeing you at Clacton Airshow this Thursday and Friday, 24 & 25 August.
The Tendring district is a great place to enjoy, whatever the weather, and they’ll be there watching out for you and working hard to keep you safe, as they do all-year round.
We want everyone to enjoy yourselves safely and responsibly, so you can expect to see our officers out on patrol and, if you do break the law or behave anti-socially, they’ll deal with you swiftly and robustly.
If you need help, see anything you feel is suspicious or something just doesn’t feel right, do tell a police officer, police community support officer, member of council staff or security officer.
In an emergency, please call 999 but do consider whether you need the police, coastguard, fire or ambulance service.
Finally, please remember, drones can’t fly within a Restricted Airspace (Temporary) zone or RAT, without the permission of the Flying Display Director. A RAT has been set up for the airshow. You can also find the information on the Drone Assist app.
If you see our officers out on patrol do say hello!
Cold Norton: Woman in critical condition following collision
We are appealing for witnesses and dash cam footage to a collision near Cold Norton where a woman was left in a critical condition. Read more.
Special Constabulary volunteering evening event
Wednesday August 30, 2023 at 6.30pm in Chelmsford
Come and meet our friendly team of recruitment staff and many serving Special Constables. Find out all about the rewarding experience of volunteering as a Special Constable and see what the process involves. Register online to secure your place. Register your place.
Leigh-on-Sea: Arson investigation
Detectives are treating a fire at an address in Leigh-on-Sea on Saturday morning as arson. Read more.
Rayleigh: Man seriously injured following collision
We are investigating a collision in Rayleigh where a cyclist sustained serious injuries. Read more.
Grays: Man arrested following assault
A man has been arrested and we’re appealing for witnesses following an assault in Grays earlier this month. Read more.
Grays: Two charged after aggravated burglaries
Two men have been charged after aggravated burglaries in Grays. Officers received reports of two aggravated burglaries about 2.45 on Thursday 17 August. Read more.
Chelmsford: Man charged in connection with supplying drugs
A 24-year-old man has been charged with supplying heroin and crack cocaine in Chelmsford. Read more.
Dunmow: Appeal for witnesses following fatal collision
We are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision in Dunmow on Wednesday, 16 August. Read more.
Wickford: Man sentenced to 12 years for child abuse
A man has been jailed after being found guilty of multiple sexual offences against children. Read more.
Southend Police Station open day
Come and meet our officers, find out what we do and get a behind the scenes look on Saturday 9 September 11am to 3pm. Read more.
Clacton: Specialist officers secure justice for victim of stalking
Offender convicted of nine offences including dangerous driving, stalking and threatening an off-duty police officer with a hammer in Clacton. Read more.
Serious collision in Dunmow: Do you have any dashcam footage?
Officers investigating a serious collision in Dunmow are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage. Read more.
Brightlingsea: Swift arrest after arson incidents
Officers investigating a series of arsons impacting on two houses and several cars in Brightlingsea made a swift arrest and continue to appeal for information. Read more.
Harlow: Woman convicted of stabbing man
A woman has been convicted of stabbing a man during an event at a home in Harlow. Read more.
Harlow: Man charged after dummies taken from children
A 23-year-old man is due to appear in court after an investigation into a series of incidents where dummies were taken from children. Read more.
Tendring: Anti-social behaviour drops by more than a third
Anti-social behaviour has fallen by 34.8% across the district in the past 12 months as police work jointly with partners to tackle causes. Read more.
Basildon: man arrested after man seriously injured following an assault
Officers investigating an incident in which a man was seriously injured just before 1am on Sunday 13 August in Southernhay, Basildon, are asking for witnesses. Read more.
Crime prevention advice
Protect your bike
Bikes are often targeted by thieves, help protect yours.
Bike tags contain a chip with a unique code that can be read by a suitable scanner. The chip does not have a GPS function and can only be used for identification not tracking. It is not a GPS. You can also register your bikes for free with Bike Register.
For more information on how property marking works, the different methods you can use, the recommended items to mark and how to register them for free visit our website.
Be fraud smart
Have you been asked to pay an upfront fee to pay for training for a new job?
Stop, challenge, protect
Be aware of potential fake profiles on social media offering jobs and always do your research.
We have more advice on how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud on our website.
Careers at Essex Police
Police Staff jobs
Electrical Design Engineer £45,375 to £48,546 13/9
Mechanical Engineer £45,375 to £48,546 13/9
Business Services Assistant £21,432 to £22,677 6/9
Roads Policing Process Support Officer £23,100 to £25,353 31/8
Establishment Officer £23,541 to £27,690 31/8
Corporate Vetting Administrator £21,432 to £22,677 31/8
Special Constabulary Recruitment Coordinator £25,758 to £27,690 28/8
IT - Chief Information Officer £93,529 to £103,063 24/8
Geographical Facilities Team Leader £28,530 to £30,375 21/8
Resolution Centre Investigator £28,299 to £32,754
Contact Handler (full time) £27,279 - £32,754
Contact Handler (part time) £16,103 per annum
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
This week we remember
George Thomas Brenchley
Read about George Brenchley who served with Southend Borough Constabulary from 1 April 1914. His service with the Borough Force was short-lived; with the outbreak of war in August 1914, George was soon mobilized and on August 5 re-joined the Grenadier Guards. Lance Sergeant George Brenchley was killed in action during the attack on 24 August 1918, he was twenty-six years old.
Cecil Pete Ernest Bearman
Read about Cecil Bearman who served with Essex County Constabulary from 1 March 1937. After training at Headquarters he saw service at Halstead and Colchester, before being stationed at Saffron Walden from 11 August 1913. On 24 May 1941 'Pete' became the first Essex police officer to join the RAF, and was then the first to obtain his wings and a commission following training in Canada and the USA. He was killed on Friday 25 August 1944, whilst serving as Flight Lieutenant 122343 and leading a flight of 131 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Alfred Welham
Read about Alfred Welham who served with Essex County Constabulary from 14 July 14 1914. He had barely completed his month long police training when, with the outbreak of war, he was recalled to The Colours on 4 August 4 1914, and rejoined his regiment as Private 7265, 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment. Alfred Welham was one of the gallant Suffolks killed during the action on August 26, 1914.
Brian ‘Bill John Bishop
Bill Bishop served with Essex County Constabulary from 11 August, 1966.
On Wednesday 22 August 1984, with other officers, Bill was called to Central Avenue, Frinton, a short distance from the seafront. This call followed on from reports that earlier in the day a man had robbed two post offices, one in Walton and another in Frinton. It was also known that he had hidden his haul of several thousand pounds alongside a railway embankment. The wanted man had held up the Post Office staff with a sawn-off shotgun and forced them to hand over money before escaping on a motor cycle.
Following the first raid he had been stopped and questioned by police as he fitted the description of the wanted man. He was then taken to his mother's house as she lived nearby. She gave him an alibi and said that he had been at home all afternoon. He was then released to commit the second raid. Meanwhile, police had kept watch on the site where the cash had been hidden. Finally the robber approached carrying what appeared to be just a carrier bag.
“Armed Police. Stop!“
Bill Bishop shouted at him `Armed Police. Stop!' at which the robber lifted the carrier bag, which concealed a gun, and shot him in the head. Police Sergeant Mervyn Fairweather was shot in the groin. Another colleague then fired at the gunman, hitting him in the back and side. Bill Bishop died five days later in Saint Bartholomew's Hospital in London. A thirty five year-old Brentwood man was arrested at the scene but, because of injuries he had sustained, he was detained under guard in Colchester hospital and later charged with murder.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
Obituaries
Susan Yeoman
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Susan Yeoman who retired as a Constable in 2004 and served at Thurrock. On retirement she re-joined as a Support Staff Member and continued working at Thurrock, Basildon and Billericay Roads Police Support Unit. She passed away on August 5 2023 aged 69 years. The funeral service will take place on Thursday August 31 2023 at 12.30pm at Bentley Crematorium, Ongar Road, Brentwood, CM15 9RZ.
David Ruff
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague David Ruff who retired as a Constable in 2000 and served at Basildon, Grays, Tilbury and Corringham. He leaves a widow Patricia. He passed away on August 5 2023 aged 77 years. The funeral service will take place on Tuesday August 22 2023 at 1pm at Basildon Crematorium.
Good, as usual. Thanks