Essex Police Dispatch - issue 130
Essex Police Weekly Update
News 18 December to 24 December
Chief: 'Have a safe and fun Christmas and if you need us, we'll be there'
The chief also pledged that officers will continue target persistent offenders throughout the festive period. Read more
M25: A young woman has died following collision
A young woman has died following a collision on M25 on Saturday 23 December.
We were notified of a single-vehicle collision on M25 at 8.40pm on Saturday 23 December in which it was reported a car had collided with the central reservation.
The clockwise section of the road was closed between junction 27 heading towards junction 28.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, the driver, a young woman from London, sadly, died at the scene. Her next of kin have been informed.
The passenger, a woman aged 20s, sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital.
Investigating officers would like to speak to anyone who has information and has not already spoken to them.
If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.
Please quote incident 1160 of 23 December when providing any information to make sure it gets to the right person as quickly as possible. Read more
Extra Eyes: court imposes 67 penalty points on 18 drivers
Last week, eighteen drivers received a total of 67 points on their licences after Extra Eyes received dash cam footage capturing driving offences from the public, ahead of Christmas. Read more
Commercial Vehicle Unit ensuring safety on our roads
Last week, our Commercial Vehicle Unit stopped 120 drivers and issued 89 penalty notices as part of their work to tackle road safety issues on our strategic road network. Read more
Epping Forest: Anti-social behaviour falls by 31% across the district
Operations were launched to combat issues including drug dealing, intimidating behaviour, noise, misuse of vehicles and fly tipping. Read more
Day of action to keep rural roads in Braintree and Uttlesford safe
On Wednesday 20 December, our teams kept a watchful eye over the districts, focusing on rural crime and traffic enforcement. Read more
Man charged with 26 offences as officers crack down on burglaries and vehicle thefts
We were made aware of reports of burglaries, thefts from vehicles and shops, and fraud on 19 December. Read more
Basildon: Appeal for witnesses following serious assault
We were called by our ambulance service colleagues to the scene of an assault in Edinburgh Way, shortly before 1.05pm on Thursday 21 December. Read more
Colchester: Focus on Safer Business Action
Our business crime officers seek to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour by forging strong working relationships. Read more
Chelmsford: Man charged as part of shoplifting investigation
A man has been charged with multiple offences as part of an investigation into a series of incidents in Chelmsford. Read more
Southend: Witness appeal following fatal collision
We are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision in Southend last week.
Officers were called to Woodgrange Drive in Southend around 4:20pm on Wednesday, 13 December following report of a collision involving a car and a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, a man in his 70s was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Sadly, he passed away in hospital on Wednesday, 20 December. His family are aware.
A woman was arrested at the scene and has since been bailed whilst enquiries continue.
Officers from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anything or have any further information or dashcam footage to contact us.
Please quote incident number 726 of 13 December. Read more
Loughton: Appeal after robberies
Officers are investigating a series of knifepoint robberies in Loughton on Tuesday, 19 December.
We were called to Chigwell Lane shortly before 4:52pm following reports of a boy being robbed by a group. The group of five men approached the victim wearing balaclavas and threatened him before stealing his designer coat and bag.
Shortly afterwards, a further report came in close to The Broadway of a group of men being in possession of a knife. Read more
Southend: How our Safe Space is protecting people in the city this winter
Officers established a zone at the top of Southend High Street on Friday and Saturday nights after women and girls said they didn't feel safe. Read more
Chelmsford: Man charged with GBH and ABH
A man has been charged with grievous bodily harm following an incident at the Drovers Way McDonald's in Boreham, near Chelmsford. Read more
Chelmsford: Man sentenced to ten years for intentional strangulation
Jordan Duff was arrested within days of a woman being assaulted in Chelmsford has been jailed for ten years, thanks to collaborative work across Essex Police. Read more
18 drivers receive penalty points for driving without due care
Eighteen drivers received a total of 67 points on their licences after Extra Eyes received dash cam footage capturing driving offences from the public ahead of Christmas.
Drug dealer jailed for 13 years
The group was responsible for moving dozens of kilograms of cocaine and cannabis and laundering millions of pounds in cash in Essex and London. Read more
A13: HGV driver that collided with stationary police car is sentenced to nine points
An HGV driver who admitted careless driving after he collided with a stationary police car on A13, has been sentenced to nine penalty points and fined. Read more
Harwich: Stolen agricultural vehicles recovered after port operation
Our rural engagement officers have recovered a telehandler and a van following an operation to detect stolen agricultural machinery being exported through Harwich International Port.
Working with the National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team (NCATT), our team spent two nights at the port inspecting and searching more than 100 lorries waiting to board North Sea ferries.
They also took the opportunity to speak to drivers about vehicle security and keeping their loads safe. Read more
Our officers made 104 arrests for shop theft in the past four weeks
We know shoplifting affects staff and customers and we are working with retailers to combat it. Read more
Two jailed for total of 26 years after shooting in Waltham Abbey
Two men have been sentenced to a total of 26 years in prison after a man was shot in Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey. Read more
Harlow: Appeal after assault
It was reported a man in his 30s had been attacked in the lower garage area of Moor Tower at around 5.30pm on Saturday 15 December. Read more
Colchester: Robbery at phone shop
It was reported a group of men went into the 3 Store in Culver Walk at around 4pm on Thursday 14 December armed with hammers. Read more
Westcliff: Man charged following disturbance
It was reported someone inside a property in Crowstone Road had been making threats and there were concerns for those in the property. Read more
A12 disruption at Colchester, Tuesday 10 October 2023
Were you significantly inconvenienced by the disruption caused on the A12 at Stanway, Colchester on Tuesday 10 October? If so we want to hear from you.
On Tuesday 10 October 2023, we responded to an incident on the A12 at Stanway in Colchester, where a man was holding a protest on the footbridge over the road.
This resulted in both carriageways having to be closed for the man’s safety and that of the public, who may have been distracted by his actions.
His actions caused significant disruption to motorists using the road between 11.15am and 6.15pm on the day.
We would like to hear from anyone who has not yet spoken to us but believes they have been inconvenienced by the disruption.
A substantial number of people will have been simply delayed by the disruption but specifically we would like to hear from anyone who:
could not attend medical appointments,
could not attend planned work / School and therefore missed out on payment / education,
missed, or were severely delayed, attending any significant life events.
Coming forward will help us progress our investigations and help ensure we can keep the county’s roads moving freely in future. You can get in contact with us by going to our website and completing our form.
Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex
Wednesday 27 December
10am to 11am
Costa Coffee 76/78 High Street, Billericay CM12 9BT
10am to 12pm
Harvey Centre, Harlow
11am to 12pm
Jilly Beans Cafe, 121 Furtherwick Road, Canvey Island, SS8 7AT
11.30am to 12.30pm
Mersea Island Methodist Church , Mill Road, West Mersea, Essex,
Thursday 28 December
10.30am to 11.30am
University of Essex , Zest Cafe
Saturday 30 December
11am to 12pm
Poplar Nurseries, Coggeshall Road, Marks Tey, Colchester CO6 1HR
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
Don't tell thieves what you've got
Burglars target homes they think contain valuables.
Keep the packaging from the new piece of tech or designer clothes.
Anything left by bins or out the front could be a great advert for what you have inside.
If you see a crime in action call 999. More advice
Be fraud smart
The holiday period can be a lonely time for some people.
Criminals try to take advantage of this by building up fast relationships with strong emotional ties. Appealing to people's compassionate side to ask for money.
If you think someone you know might have fallen for a scam. Please speak to them & report it to action fraud. More advice
Join our team
Police staff jobs
Senior Applications Engineer £38,439
Project Manager Estate Services £41,928
Information Officer £27,789
Geographic Facilities Assistant £21,432 to £22,677
Detention Officers - £26,334 to £30,424
Resolution Centre Investigators £28,299 to £32,754
Contact Handlers (full time) £27,279 - £32,754
Contact Handlers (part time) £16,103 per annum
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
This week we remember
George Albert Manning
George Manning served with Essex County Constabulary from 23 August 1946 and died on 26 December, 1976. On one of the last days of his 30 years' service, George was out on mobile patrol with a young officer when their vehicle was sent to a suspected burglary in progress at Hutton. The police vehicle was involved in a road accident en route. George and the constable were badly injured. George tried to release the trapped driver but collapsed in the process. Six weeks later, on Boxing Day 1976, he died from his injuries.
Harry Basil Wick
Harry Wick joined Essex County Constabulary on May 20, 1912 and after serving for three years at Colchester, he enlisted with the 19th Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
He entered the trenches near to the La Bassee Canal he died on December 28, 1915. Harry may have been killed in action on that day or could have been mortally wounded some days earlier and moved back to the dressing station at Cuinchy which was located close to the site of what is now Woburn Abbey Cemetery.
John Smith
Police Constable John Smith served with Essex County Constabulary from July 1, 1842 and gave his previous occupation as labourer, which could have meant many things. Little is known of John Smith's career in the force, but he spent at least two years at Coggeshall from June 1848, and from May 1853 was working at Great Wakering.
Just after Christmas in 1858 John met his death by drowning, whilst on duty, but it has not been possible to ascertain the circumstances which led to his death.
Joseph Benjamin Thomas
Special Corporal Joseph Thomas was the Curate of Radwinter, a small village about four miles from Saffron Walden. Around 10.50pm on the very stormy evening of 28th December 1914 Joseph Thomas left Police Constable Crickmore, the village constable of Radwinter, to go on patrol and meet Mr. L Drysdale, the Special Constable of Hempstead. When he failed to arrive and subsequently did not turn up at home the next morning the alarm was raised. Superintendent Boyce of Saffron Walden was informed of the circumstances.
Accompanied by Police Sergeant A.G. Neckolde and with the assistance of the local police, a search was made, with the result that Joseph Thomas' body was found drowned in three feet of water in a brook near Sellands Farm, Radwinter. His inquest, held on 31st December 1914, concluded that Joseph Thomas had probably slipped whilst crossing a bridge over the swollen brook and that he was carried away by the flood.
Frederick George ‘Freddie’ Waring
Police Constable Freddie Waring served with Essex County Constabulary from November 6, 1935 and was posted to Brentwood on 21 December 1935, having spent an initial period training at Headquarters. From 14 May 1936 he was stationed at Billericay, before returning to Headquarters. Freddie received a commendation from the Chief Constable for his alertness and attention to duty in arresting two men for stealing bicycles.
He left the police on 2 November 1941 and joined the R.A.F. the following day. He went missing, presumed killed, on Sunday, 31 December 1944 whilst serving as Flying Officer 151138 with 620 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Freddie was aged 30. He has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 209 of the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
Obituaries
Alan Rowlands
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Alan Rowlands who retired as a Constable in 1988 and served at Stock, Billericay & Grays.
He passed away on 23 November 2023 aged 87 years.
Derrick Thomas
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Derrick Thomas who retired as an Inspector in 1978 and served at Pitsea, Brentwood, Chelmsford & Clacton. He leaves a widow Vera.
He passed away on the 4 December 2023 aged 91 years.
Jeremy Spencer
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Jeremy Spencer who retired as a Constable in 2015 and served with the Met from 1985 to 2001 and then joined Essex and served at OPC FCR, POLSA, SCD, Central, CJD & Loughton. He leaves a widow Ladda.
He passed away on 18 November 2023 aged 59 years.