Essex Police Dispatch - issue 147
Essex Police Weekly Update
News 15 April to 21 April
Commercial Vehicle Unit work with partners to keep Port of Tilbury “shipshape”
Commercial Vehicle Unit worked with partners at the Port of Tilbury to ensure vehicles entering the port were roadworthy, compliant and that business vehicles were operating in the spirit of fairness.
Officers help evacuate 50 animals after fire
Officers assisting at the scene of a fire near a vet in Basildon helped to rescue dozens of animals and ensured their treatment could continue.
Alongside colleagues with Essex Fire and Rescue Service, UK Power Networks and East of England Ambulance Service, we were called to Gardiners Lane South, shortly after 1.45pm on Thursday 18 April.
It was established a fire had taken hold inside a building adjacent to Southfields Veterinary Specialists.
Around 50 animals were on site receiving treatment.
Thankfully, staff at the vet managed to safely evacuate every animal.
We attended and liaised with colleagues to ensure the safety of all persons and animals involved.
190 arrests in one month for Operational Support Group
One team of officers has arrested 190 suspects in March 2023, as they target dangerous offenders in our county and dangerous drivers on our highways.
The Operational Support Group (OSG) operated across Essex were out supporting local officers.
Among the arrests were 67 suspects identified for violent offences and posing the greatest risk to the public. These offences include rape, robbery, causing grievous bodily harm and aggravated burglary.
To make these arrests they also carried out 26 search warrants, made 153 stop and searches and deployed their drones 10 times.
OSG have also been proactively policing our roads, taking 39 vehicles off the road for no insurance.
Southend: Man who harassed vulnerable teen for money jailed
A persistent beggar who regularly caused distress to members of the public in Southend has been jailed for 10 months after breaching a court order sought by Essex Police.
Richard Lewis, 37, of no fixed address, was made the subject of a Criminal Behaviour Order by Southend Magistrates’ Court on 5 April.
This order followed reports Lewis had been aggressively begging and escorting people to cash points to ensure they withdrew money for him.
Eleven people charged with assaulting retail workers
We’ve also arrested 58 people for shoplifting in the past fortnight and secured 114 shop theft charges
Harlow: Four arrested after Class A drugs and cash recovered
Officers executed warrants at four address in the Netteswell area.
M25: Two men bailed in connection with fatal collision
Two men have been released on bail following a fatal collision that occurred at junction 30 of the M25 about 11.40pm on Sunday 14 April.
Bradfield: Thank you to the public who helped clear a felled tree
We were called to Heath Road shortly before 2pm on Monday 15 April to reports that a large oak tree had fallen across the road, blocking the road for all vehicles and striking a bus stop on the opposite side of the road.
Because of the windy weather, all emergency services were responding to high demand across the county.
Roads Policing officers who attended want to thank the local residents and local tradespeople who came out in force to help chop up the large tree.
The road was reopened to traffic around 5.30pm.
How we are helping to keep our rural communities safe
Our Rural Engagement Team has been busy during the past year, working to keep farms, estates and rural communities across Essex safe.
They work with many partners to target crimes which specifically affect rural communities and businesses, including hare coursing and poaching, and the theft of agricultural vehicles and machinery.
A large part of the team’s work, as their name suggests, is engaging with farmers and agricultural workers, rural businesses and, of course, residents.
M25: Two men arrested in connection with fatal collision
Essex Police have arrested two men in connection with a fatal collision that occurred at junction 30 of the M25 about 11.40pm on Sunday 14 April with reports of a collision involving a car and motorcycle at the Mardyke Junction.
Organised crime group jailed for almost 30 years
Committed criminals caught supplying cocaine in wholesale quantities have been jailed alongside two of their customers thanks to an investigation by our Serious Organised Crime Unit.
Those involved in the conspiracy have been handed prison terms totalling almost 30 years.
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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Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 22 April
10am to 11am
Hadleigh library, 180 London Road Hadleigh, Benfleet
10am to 2pm
Broomfield Hospital Atrium, Court Rd, Broomfield, Chelmsford CM1 7ET
10am to 11am
Morrison's Supermarket, Centenary Way, Little Clacton.
10am to 11am
Billericay Community Hub, High Street, Billericay CM12 9BQ
10am to 11am
Hadleigh library, 180 London Road, Benfleet
11am to 12pm
Eastgate Food Court, Southernhay, Basildon SS14 1EB
2pm to 3pm
Canvey library 2 High Street, Canvey Island
6pm to 7pm
Morrisons, Western Approaches, Eastwood
Tuesday 23 April
10:00am to 11:00am
Quadrant Department Store, 220 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford
10am to 12pm
Oasis Cafe, Frinton Free Church, Connaught Avenue, Frinton on Sea.
10:45am to 11:45am
Rochford Banking hub, West Street, Rochford SS4 1AJ
11am to 2pm
Pinkeneys, Chrishall
Wednesday 24 April
10am to 11am
Gossip of Great Wakering, 14 High Street, Great Wakering, SS3 0EQ
10am to 11am
Newport Coffee Morning, Church House, Newport
10am to 12pm
Outside Tesco's, Church Langley, Harlow
10am to 11am
Rochford Banking hub, West Street, Rochford SS4 1AJ
10am to 11am
Gossip, 14 High Street, Great Wakering SS3 0EQ
12pm to 1:30pm
Waves Cafe, South Essex College, High Street, Grays
Thursday 25 April
10:00am to 11:00am
Hullbridge Parish Council, 98 Ferry Road, Hullbridge, Hockley, SS5 6EX
10am to 3pm
CAVS community day - Canvey, Knightswick Centre, Canvey Island
11am to 12pm
Outside M&S, 62 High Street, Chelmsford CM1 1DH
3pm to 4pm
BP, 377 Ongar Road. Pilgrims Hatch
Friday 26 April
10:00am to 11:00am
Friars Park, 61 Exeter Close, Southend-on-Sea
10am to 12pm
Co-op Food, 45 Spa Road, Hockley SS5 4BE
10am to 11am
Alton Garden Centre, Arterial Road, Wickford SS12 9JG
10am to 12pm
Walton food bank, Standley Road, Walton on Naze.
Saturday 27 April
9am to 9:45am
Parkrun, Central Park, Chelmsford
10am to 3pm
St Marys Church, Church Street, Great Dunmow
10:30am to 11:30am
Manningtree Market, Market Place, Manningtree.
Sunday 28 April
10:30am to 11:30am
Essex Wildlife Discovery Centre, Old Hall Lane, Walton on Naze.
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
Keeping your home secure
Small changes to your garden could help make your home more secure.
Our top tips are:
Use tactical planting of low-growing thorny shrubs around fences, windows or drainpipes.
Outdoor lighting can be a good deterrent for a burglar.
Make sure sheds and gates are secured with close shackle padlocks and pad bolts. Remember to replace them when they start to rust.
Secure expensive items like bikes with ground anchor
Be fraud smart
Scam alert!
Fraudsters are sending fake text messages from delivery companies, saying they need more details or asking you to click a link to reschedule a delivery.
The messages are copying the company's logos and basic information to make you think they are real.
Do not click on any link from an unknown sender. Check the number or URL address and if you are expecting a package go to the company site directly to track your parcel.
Join our team
Police staff jobs
IT - EUC Field Operations Engineer £28,290
IT - Senior Software Developer £38,349
Vehicle Recovery Administrator £24,921
Detention Officers £28,409 to £32,335
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
This week we remember
Frederick James Redhouse
Frederick James Redhouse service with Colchester Borough Constabulary and volunteered for military service in 1915 with the Military Mounted Police. In 1917 he was serving on the Western Front and was struck by a piece of shrapnel whilst regulating traffic. He died of his wound on 25 April 1917.
William A Mann
William A Mann served with Essex County Constabulary from 6 June 1914. His police service lasted just 2 months before being recalled to the army at the outbreak of war. Gunner Willian Mann was deployed with 24th Headquarters Brigade, Royal Field Artillery when he met is death on 26 April, 1915.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
Obituaries
Eric Cook
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Eric Cook who retired as a sergeant in 1974 and served at Colchester.
He passed away on 18 March 2024 aged 104 years.