News 4 March to 10 March
Chief Constable and Home Secretary welcome 79 new officers to the force
The 42 men and 37 women passed out during a ceremony at Essex Police Headquarters last Friday 8 March.
They pledged to protect and serve communities across the county in front of Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, the Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner for Essex Roger Hirst, the Home Secretary and MP for Braintree, James Cleverly, the High Sheriff Charles Bishop and his consort Nellie Bishop, and Deputy Lord Lieutenant Sidra Naeem.
They join the force at a time when crime is continuing to fall with more than 9,600 fewer offences last year, and more than 9,400 fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour. Read more
Harlow: Man convicted for the murder of Phillip Lewis
A man, who thought he could get away with killing his friend and disposing of his body across Harlow has been found guilty of murder.
Lee Clarke, 56 of Wedhey, Harlow appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday 8 March, where a jury found him unanimously guilty of murdering Phillip Lewis following a four-week trial.
An investigation was launched on New Years Eve 2022, after Essex Police received a call from a member of the public, who had discovered a suspicious item at Oakwood Pond in Harlow at around 2pm. The area was quickly cordoned off and following attendance from forensic officers, the item was confirmed to be human remains.
A murder investigation within Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate was launched and dozens of detectives and specialist officers were assigned to the case.
Within two days of the discovery, the victim was identified through a DNA match as 59-year-old Phillip Lewis, who was known locally in Harlow as Scottish Phil. Read more
Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan
Protecting women is a priority
That’s from our officer who leads our work tackling violence against women and girls.
Speaking on International Women’s Day, Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan says the force is making progress in tackling issues women face.
She said the force has innovated to better support victims, protect them, and investigate offences: “In Essex, we’re doing things differently. Read more
Nicola Doubleday
Meet Cyber Prevent and Protect Officer, Nicola Doubleday
Essex Police, Cyber Prevent and Protect Officer, Nicola Doubleday, works with schools, businesses and local communities to prevent people becoming victims of fraud and cyber crime. Read more
Road Crime Team arrest nine in one night
On Sunday 3 March, our Road Crime Team officers led teams from across the force in a countywide effort to tackle road-related crime and road safety.
Working together, the teams arrested nine people for a variety of offences relating to drugs, offensive weapons and dangerous driving. Read more
Tackling illegal fishing, poaching and wildlife crimes
Our rural engagement officers work to prevent and deter illegal fishing and waterside anti-social behaviour.
Essex Wildlife and Heritage Crime officer PC Jed Raven says we want regular visitors to reservoirs, lakes and rivers to be aware of poaching, illegal fishing and wildlife crimes, what to look out for and how to report them.
Our Rural Engagement Team visited Hanningfield Waterside Park on the first weekend of its bank fishing season with their rangers to talk with anglers and other visitors.
During the morning, they spoke to 70 people around the reservoir and anglers in 13 boats while patrolling with special constable colleagues, Environment Agency (EA) fisheries enforcement officers, investigative support officers from the National Wildlife Crime Unit and volunteers from the Angling Trust. Read more
Nineteen domestic abuse arrests in just one day
In total 19 arrests were made across the county yesterday (Wednesday 6 March) and it comes as today marks 10 years since the inception of Clare’s Law – which gives you an opportunity to find out information about a potentially abusive partner. Read more
Officers arrest 32 on suspicion of shoplifting last week resulting in 39 charges
Our specialist Business Crime Team works with retailers to encourage them to report shop thefts and assaults of shop staff to us.
And, in the past week, Essex Police officers have arrested 32 people on suspicion of shoplifting, with 20 subsequently being charged with a total of 39 shop theft offences. Two have also been charged with related assaults. Read more
Chelmsford: Man arrested on suspicion of attempted rape
Officers were called to a car park, outside B&M on Parkway in Chelmsford shortly before 2am on Saturday 9 March following reports of a woman being sexually assaulted.
We responded quickly and the victim is continuing to receive support from our officers and partner agencies.
Detectives from our Serious Crime Directorate have committed themselves to carrying out extensive enquiries, including reviewing CCTV and obtaining witness statements from those in the area.
A 21-year-old man from Chelmsford was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape. He remains in custody. Read more
Seven more arrests tackling drugs, stalking, and assault
Our Operational Support Group carried out work supporting teams from across the force yesterday. Read more
There's more local news in our district editions of Dispatch. Subscribe to ensure you don't miss the local news where you live or work.
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Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 11 March
10am to 11am
Joining Peabody, Walton Community Forum, High Street, Walton on Naze.
10am to 11am
Ashdon Coffee Morning, 2 Radwinter Road, Ashdon
11am to 12pm
Costa Coffee, Highbridge Retail Park, Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey EN9 1BY
2pm to 3pm
Southend Hospital, Towerblock, Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff
Tuesday 12 March
10:30am to 12pm
Witham Town Hall, Heritage Suite
10:30am to 3:30pm
Zinc Arts, Great Stony High Street, Chipping Ongar
11am to 12pm
Kent Elms Library, 1 Rayleigh Road, Eastwood
12pm to 2pm
The Megacentre Rayleigh, 7 Brook Road, Rayleigh SS6 7UT
12pm to 1pm
Byfords, Eastwood Old Road, Leigh on Sea
2:30pm to 4:30pm
Asda, Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh SS6 9RN
Wednesday 13 March
10am to 11am
Costa Coffee, Kiosk, 14, Northlands Pavement Pitsea Centre, Pitsea, Basildon SS13 3DU
10am to 12pm
Bush Fair Shopping Hatch, Harlow
10:30am to 11:30am
Manningtree Library, High Street, Manningtree
10:30am to 12pm
Alresford book cafe, St Andrews Church, St Andrews Close, Alresford.
1:30pm to 3:30pm
Joining CVST at the Walton Forum, High Street, Walton on Naze.
Thursday 14 March
10am to 12pm
Walton Library, 52 High Street, Walton on Naze.
10:45am to 11:45am
The Mill Arts & Events Centre, Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh SS6 7ED
11am to 12pm
West Leigh Baptist Church, 1150 London Road, Leigh on sea
11am to 12pm
Morrisons, Western Approaches, Eastwood
11am to 1pm
Knightswick Centre - Furtherwick Road Canvey Island
Friday 15 March
10am to 11am
Walton food bank, Standley Road, Walton on Naze
11am to 12pm
The Snug Cafe, High Easter
12pm to 2pm
Oasis Cafe, Frinton free church, Connaught Avenue, Frinton on Sea.
2:30pm to 3:30pm
Earls Hall Primary School, Carlton Avenue, Westcliff on sea
4:30pm to 5:30pm
Venture Centre 2000 Rainbows, Bromley Road, Lawford, Manningtree.
Saturday 16 March
9:30am to 10:30am
Billericay Library 143 High Street, Billericay CM12 9AB
10am to 11am
Great Tarpots library, 127 London Road, South Benfleet, Benfleet
11am to 12pm
Co-op, White Street, Great Dunmow
2pm to 3pm
2 High Street, Canvey Island
Sunday 17 March
10am to 11am
Morrisons Supermarket, Centenary Way, Little Clacton.
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
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.
You can also register your bikes for free with The National Cycle Database
Be fraud smart
Hate missing out on a good deal?
Fraudsters can take advantage of this to make you respond quickly.
Remember to stop, think and check.
Join our team
Police staff jobs
Senior Software Developer £38,349
Assistant Caseworker £23,121
Assistant Secretary £24,921
Senior Network Engineer £38,349
Administration Assistant £23,121
Operational Lawyer £48,966
Digital Forensic Specialist £38,349
Bodyshop Team Leader £39,036
Content, Platforms and Insight Manager £48,966
Insurance Technician £30,783
Customer Contact Administrator £24,921
Investigative Coach and Trainer £30,783
Detention Officers £28,409 to £32,335
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
This week we remember
Frank Brace
Frank Brace served with Colchester Borough Constabulary from 20 March 1914. He joined after being discharged from the Bedfordshire Regiment but was recalled after just four months at the outbreak of war on 4 August 1914.
He served as Corporal and his battalion sailed to Harvre and then on to Le Cateau. He was mortally between 6 to 11 March 1915 and died in hospital on 13 March whilst waiting to return to England.
Lesley Ann Beet
Lesley Beet joined the Cadet Corps in September 1973 when she was 17. Cadets led a full academic and sporting life, and on 13 March 1974 Lesley Beet was in a supervised party of cadets canoeing on the River Chelmer. Her canoe capsized and despite efforts to save her she was drowned.
Harry Warden
Harry Warden joined Essex County Constabulary on 13 June 1938 having previously seen service in the army between 23 October 1933 and 14 March 1938. After his initial posting at Headquarters, Harry moved to Brentwood from 6 August 1938, and then to Laindon from 5 December 1938. He returned to Brentwood from 13 September 1939 but wo weeks later he was recalled to the army. He died on Wednesday, 17 March 1943 whilst serving as Sergeant 2613830 with the 6th Battalion, Grenadier Guards. He was aged 27.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
Obituaries
Jason Batchelor
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Jason Batchelor who retired as an Inspector in 2017 and served at Basildon, Tilbury, Grays and Harlow. He passed away on 11 February 2024 aged 56 years.