Essex Police Dispatch - issue 145
Essex Police Weekly Update
News 1 April to 7 April
Road Crime Team make 126 arrests so far in 2024
Officers from our dedicated Road Crime Team have made more than 120 arrests and recovered more than 40 stolen vehicles in the first three months of the year.
The Road Crime Team target criminals using our road network across the county as well as tackle crime on our roads.
Between the beginning of January and the end of March they made 126 arrests, recovered 44 stolen vehicles, and seized 109 uninsured vehicles.
Essex Police employs more women as police officers than ever before
Essex Police employs more women as police officers than ever before, according to new figures released in the force’s annual gender pay gap report.
The number of women employed in leadership and police staff roles at Essex Police has also increased as the force continues to strive hard to represent all the communities we serve.
Between 31 March 2022 and 31 March 2023, the reporting period covered by the latest Gender Pay Gap Report, the number of women who are Essex Police officers increased from 1,311 to 1,418.
Officers arrest 37 people for shoplifting in a week
Our specialist Business Crime Team works with retailers to encourage them to report shop thefts and assaults of shop staff to us.
The officers are dedicated to supporting businesses and advising them how to stop crimes from happening in the first place, providing security, staff safety, crime prevention, fraud and cyber-crime advice.
Last week, 37 people were arrested by Essex Police officers across the county on suspicion of shop theft, with 25 subsequently being charged with a total of 51 counts of shop theft. Three of those were also charged with assault.
Business crime officers work with the retail community to stress the importance of reporting shop theft, abuse and violence against staff.
And, together with our designing out crime officers, they provide individual stores with tailored crime prevention and security advice. All this work comes under the banner of Open For Business, Closed For Crime.
Keeping Roads in Essex safe for everyone
Roads Policing Unit to take part in month-long national operation to tackle road-related crime across Essex, aiming to keep all road users safe.
Throughout April, our Roads Policing Unit will carry out enforcement activities in support of a national road safety operation to identify drivers who flout the law and Highway Code, display poor and dangerous driving and whose driving poses a threat to the safety of other road users by focussing on offences known collectively as the Fatal Four.
Four more arrests as specialist officers work to keep you safe
On Saturday 6, April, teams from our Operational Support Group and Roads Policing Unit were targeting those suspected of causing harm as they continued their work to keep you safe.
They arrested a man in Chelmsford after being called to a disturbance.
A man was arrested in Harlow on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply, assault, criminal damage, controlling and coercive behaviour.
Officers stopped a car on the M11 near Stansted and the driver was found to be driving without insurance or a full driving licence. The car was seized and the driver issued with a ticket for the offences.
A driver stopped in Braintree district on suspicion of speeding was arrested when he failed a roadside drugs test.
And a motorist was arrested on suspicion of drink driving in Chelmsford after failing a roadside breath test.
Witham: Appeal after man found seriously injured
We were called by colleagues from the ambulance service to reports that a man had been in collision with a car in Christina Road.
The man, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital with injuries which are serious, but are not believed to be life-threatening.
Investigating officers from Braintree CID believe a white Ford Fiesta may have been involved in the incident and are asking witnesses or anyone who has dashcam or any other footage to contact us.
Please quote the crime reference number 42/55012/24.
Rayleigh: Man arrested following disturbance
It was reported a man was being aggressive towards customers and door staff and making threats.
We were called to the Spread Eagle on the High Street at 7.55pm on Saturday 6 April.
It was reported a man was being aggressive towards customers and door staff and making threats.
Our officers attended and located the man, and reported an officer had been assaulted.
A 30 year-old man from Rayleigh has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency working, a public order offence, and possession of cannabis.
He is currently in custody.
Thurrock: Teenager admits Lakeside robberies
The 15-year-old from Southend pleaded guilty to the charges following an investigation by detectives from Essex Police.
It follows incidents of robbery reported in Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock, in November and December last year.
He has been released on conditional bail and will appear before Southend Magistrates Court on Tuesday 7 May.
Colchester: Two charged with drugs offences
On March 10, officers on the A12 at the border of Essex stopped a vehicle they believed was connected to drug dealing.
The officers seized the phone of one of the occupants of the car the following day, which through their investigation they believed to be involved in supplying drugs in Essex.
Officers from Essex Police and the Metropolitan Police worked together and executed two warrants on 4 April, one in Romford and one in Colchester, arresting a man and a woman on suspicion of drugs and human trafficking offences.
Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex
Monday 8 April
10am to 12pm
Joining Peabody at Walton Forum, High Street, Walton on Naze.
10am to 11am
Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre, Hillhouse, Waltham Abbey EN9 3EL
7:30pm to 9pm
Parish Council Meeting, North Weald Village Hall, 40 High Road, North Weald
Tuesday 9 April
10am to 11am
Abercorn Plant & Garden Centre, Beehive Lane, Great Baddow, Chelmsford
10am to 11am
The Co-operative Bank, 40 London Road, Southend on sea
10am to 11am
Costa Coffee, Kiosk, 14, Northlands Pavement Pitsea Centre, Pitsea, SS13 3DU
10:30am to 12pm
Witham Town Hall, Heritage Suite
12pm to 2pm
The Megacentre Rayleigh, 7 Brook Road, Rayleigh SS6 7UT
12pm to 1pm
Longacres Homelands Retail Park, Cuton Hall Lane, Springfield, Chelmsford
12:30pm to 1:30pm
McDonalds, Harlow Town Centre
2:30pm to 4:30pm
Asda, Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh SS6 9RN
Wednesday 10 April
10am to 12pm
Harvey Centre, Harlow
10am to 12pm
Metro Bank, Victoria Shopping Centre, High Street,Southend
10am to 1pm
Waterside Farm Sports Centre, Somnes Avenue, Canvey Island
10am to 11am
Broomfield Library, 180 Main Road, Broomfield, Chelmsford
10:30am to 12pm
Alresford book cafe, St Andrews Church, St Andrews Close, Alresford.
10:30am to 11:30am
Manningtree Library, High Street, Manningtree.
10:30am to 11:30am
Walton Forum, High Street, Walton on Naze.
11am to 12pm
Sainsbury's, Cricketers Retail Park, Cricketers Way, Basildon, Essex. SS131SA
Thursday 11 April
10:30am to 11:30am
Jaywick Community & Resource Centre, Brooklands Gardens, Jaywick.
11am to 12pm
Ashfields, Green Street, Great Canfield
2:30pm to 3:30pm
Stebbing Community Shop, High Street
Friday 12 April
10am to 12pm
Walton food bank, Standley Road, Walton on Naze.
10am to 11am
Morrisons Supermarket, Centenary Way, Little Clacton.
10:30am to 11:30am
The Council Offices, Victoria Place, Brightlingsea.
11am to 12pm
Old School Cafe, Takeley
Saturday 13 April
9:30am to 10:30am
Billericay Library 143 High Street, Billericay CM12 9AB
10am to 1pm
Property Marking, Wendens Ambo Village Hall, Royston Road
10:30am to 11:30am
Jaywick Library, Golf Green Road, Jaywick.
11am to 12pm
Morrisons, 175 London Road, Hadleigh SS7 2RB
2pm to 3pm
Sainsburys Rayleigh Weir, 21 Stadium Way, Benfleet
2pm to 3pm
Shared Space, 593 Southchurch Road, Southend
2pm to 3pm
Sainsburys Rayleigh Weir, Stadium Way, Benfleet, SS73U
2:30pm to 3:30pm
Essex Wildlife Discovery Centre, Old Hall Lane, Walton on Naze.
Sunday 14 April
11am to 1pm
The Martello Lounge, The Promenade, Clacton on Sea.
11am to 12pm
Outside Marks & Spencer, 62 High Street, Chelmsford, United Kingdom
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
Spiking
Spiking is giving someone alcohol or drugs without them knowing or agreeing. For example, in their drink or with a needle.
Spiking can happen to anyone anywhere – no matter their age, gender, sexuality or ethnicity. It can be carried out by strangers or by people you know.
It can be difficult to know if someone has spiked you. The symptoms vary depending on what someone has spiked you with. They can be similar to having excess alcohol. If you start to feel strange or more drunk than you thought you should be, seek help straight away. If you feel seriously unwell, call 999 or ask someone to get you emergency medical assistance.
There is no right or wrong way to feel. Some victims need emergency medical assistance, others don't.
We would like to know about any spiking incident, no matter how long ago it happened. Our main concern is to make sure that the victim gets the support they need. Once the victim is well enough, we are here to support and investigate what happened.
Your spiking report enables us to launch this investigation and prevent others from being spiked.
Be fraud smart
Are you planning to book a holiday or maybe a short break?
If something looks too good to be true it probably is. Stay scam savvy by reading online reviews from reputable sources before making any bookings.
You can also confirm if an accommodation really exists by verifying the address through web searches and online maps.
Check that your travel company is a member of a trade body e.g. ATOL
Join our team
Police staff jobs
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
Edmund Sleigh Frost
Police Sergeant Edmund Frost lived and worked in Halstead before being posted to the opposite end of the county when he joined the force on 1 March 1929. He worked at various stations in the Romford division before being promoted to sergeant, returning briefly to the rural end of Essex before being posted back to Romford at the start of the Second World War.
Edmund Frost was commended by the Chief Constable for consistent good work in air raids on Romford. In August 1946 Edmund Frost had a long period of sick leave after being kicked by a deserter. He returned to work and was posted to Harlow, but succumbed to a fatal disease which was directly related to the injury on duty he had received. He died on 8 April 1948.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.