Essex Police Dispatch - issue 176
Essex Police Weekly Update
News 4 November to 10 November
Clacton: Devastated owners of burger bar destroyed in suspected arson speak out
The devastated owners of a burger bar van which was destroyed in a suspected arson at the beginning of November are appealing for anyone with information to contact the police.
Emma and Barry Ansell have run the Mermaids Burger Bar on Valleybridge Road, Clacton, for more than 6 years.
Officers are investigating the incident which happened at around 1.30am on Monday 4 November.
Fire crews were called to the scene and put out the blaze.
Cruising with purpose: Meet Special Constable Wayne David
Since 2013, Special Police Constable Wayne David has been a driving force in Essex Police, a local hero dedicated to making roads and communities safer. Starting his career with the Colchester Local Policing Team, he quickly found his true calling on the Roads Policing Unit. Wayne’s journey is one of dedication and a deep-rooted commitment to helping others, with no shortage of excitement along the way.
Special Constables are volunteer officers who step up in their free time to support the police. They hold the same powers as regular police officers, which means they can make arrests, investigate incidents, and patrol streets just like any other officer. They undergo rigorous training to handle all sorts of emergencies and keep communities safe—all while balancing their day-to-day jobs. For Wayne, this demanding dual life brings a sense of purpose worth every second.
East Tilbury: WW2 ordnance successfully and safely detonated
Experts have safely detonated a World War Two device found on a construction site in East Tilbury.
The discovery was made at the site, off Station Road, at around 11.30am on Tuesday 5 November.
The device was found to be a 250kg bomb dropped by the Luftwaffe during World War Two.
It had remained hidden underground and was only uncovered by ongoing construction work in the area.
Officers immediately worked hard with partners from multiple agencies to secure the scene, while Ministry of Defence experts established the safest and most efficient means of disposing of the bomb.
A 500-metre cordon was in place around the site while numerous specialists prepared to safely detonate the device.
This cordon has since been stood down.
Retired Police Dogs thanked for their service
Three retried police dogs (RPD) have been acknowledged for their loyal service to Essex Police and our communities.
The trio of German Shepherds, who had a combined 10 years of service, were presented with the Paul Nicholls Service Medal at an event held at Essex Police HQ.
The medal is named after its founder, Paul Nicholls QPM. Paul, a retired Essex Police dog handler, worked with the Essex Retired Police Dogs Fund, to come up with a way of acknowledging the loyal service of our police dogs.
The medal is presented to all dogs who have come to the end of their Essex Police service - whether that's through retirement, or more sadly, injury or death.
RPDs Cain and Ollie, who are very much enjoying retired life with, were joined by their post-police service families.
Sadly, RPD Comet, died earlier this year, but his handler PC Darren Barnard and family were on hand to receive Comet’s medal on his behalf.
Thank you for your service, Cain, Ollie and Comet
1,500 arrests as we target burglary across the county
We’ve made more than 1500 arrests in the last 12 months as we target people who leave you feeling unsafe in your home.
We have also attended almost every break-in that’s taken place since April, continuing our commitment to tackling burglary.
Don’t be tempted to steal, warns business crime officer
Our Business Crime Team are asking hard-pressed shoppers to reconsider if they are thinking of stealing.
Officers arrested 111 people on suspicion of shop theft* or for assaulting retailers in Essex during October 2024 and 84 of them were charged with a total of 283 counts of shoplifting. Seven were also charged with assaulting retail workers.
Our officers will be increasing patrols in many areas in the run-up to Black Friday and then Christmas as shoppers flock to stores in the hope of grabbing a bargain.
Drug dealing trio convicted after cracking of Encrochat
Work by specialist officers have ensured three men have been convicted for their roles widespread sale of drugs in Essex.
The investigation is one of those which came from Op Venetic – a major operation involving the cracking of a bespoke encrypted global communication service.
EncroChat offered a secure mobile phone instant messaging service with 60,000 users worldwide and around 10,000 in the UK.
Since 2016, international law enforcement agencies worked together to target EncroChat and agencies in France and the Netherlands infiltrated the platform.
The intelligence gleaned through this was then shared via Europol to national law enforcement agencies.
Southend: Two arrested in serious violence operation
Two men have been arrested as part of our policing operation which is targeting gang activity and serious violence in Southend.
Officers executed two warrants on Monday 4 November, in Great Wakering and Shoebury.
During searches of both properties, officers seized substances which we believe to be Class A drugs, cash and weapons.
Both men, aged 22 and 27, remain in custody for questioning on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
Dispatch survey - win a multi-function emergency radio
There's still time to give us your feedback so we can be sure Dispatch includes the information and updates you want. This 5 question survey will only take a minute to complete and this time, everyone who completes the survey will enter a free competition to win an emergency radio with a built-in torch.
Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 11 November
10am to 12pm
Joining Peabody, Walton Forum, 61 High Street, Walton on Naze.
11am to 11:30am
Lidl, Rayleigh Road, Leigh on Sea
2:30pm to 3:30pm
Marks & Spencer Foodhall, 12-24 Eastwood Road, Rayleigh SS6 7JQ
Tuesday 12 November
10am to 11am
Waitrose, St Andrews gardens , Colchester
10am to 11am
Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre, Hillhouse, Waltham Abbey EN9 3EL
10:30am to 12pm
Witham Town Hall, Heritage Suite, Witham
11am to 12:30pm
South Essex College, High Street, Grays
12pm to 2pm
The Megacentre Rayleigh, 7 Brook Road, Rayleigh SS6 7UT
2:30pm to 4:30pm
Asda, Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh SS6 9RN
3pm to 4pm
Hatfield Broad Oak Post Office, 1 High Street, Hatfield Broad Oak
Wednesday 13 November
9:30am to 12:30pm
Rayleigh Town Market, High Street, Rayleigh SS6 7EA
10am to 11am
Canvey library, 2 High Street, Canvey Island
10am to 11am
Morrison's Supermarket, Centenary Way, Little Clacton.
10am to 2pm
Broomfield Hospital Atrium, Court Road, Broomfield, Chelmsford CM1 7ET
10:30am to 12pm
Alresford book cafe, St Andrews Church, St Andrews Close, Alresford.
3:30pm to 5pm
Naze Marine Holiday Park, The Poplars, Walton on Naze.
Thursday 14 November
10am to 11am
Lakelands Community Centre, 2 western approach, Colchester
10am to 11am
M&S Food, Unit 1, Brook Park West, T Grove, Clacton on Sea.
11am to 12pm
Havens, 138-140 Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff
2pm to 3pm
Hadleigh Library, 180 London Road Hadleigh, Benfleet
3pm to 4pm
Costa Coffee, T Grove Brook Park West, Clacton on Sea.
3:30pm to 5pm
Walk & Talk through Connaught Avenue to the Greensward, Frinton on Sea.
5pm to 6pm
Waitrose & Partners, 1231 London Road, Leigh on Sea
5pm to 6pm
Co-op, 57 Sutton Road, Southend
10am to 11am
Ford Barns, Crown Lane, Clacton on Sea.
Friday 15 November
10am to 11am
The Council Offices, Victoria Place, Brightlingsea.
11am to 12pm
Morrisons - 175 London Road, Hadleigh, Benfleet
11am to 12pm
Towngate Theatre, St. Martins Square, Basildon SS14 1DL
3pm to 4pm
Shared Space, 53 Southchurch Road, Southend
3pm to 4pm
Cliffs Pavillion, Station Road, Westcliff-on-Sea
Saturday 16 Novembe
9am to 9:30am
The Snug, High Easter
10am to 11:30am
Woody's Restaurant, Thurrock Garden Centre, South Road, South Ockendon
10am to 11am
Brambles Cafe, Quadrant Department Store, 220 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford
10am to 11am
Hatfield Broad Oak Village Hall (Outside), Cage End, Hatfield Broad Oak
10:30am to 11:30am
Woodside Chase, Hawkwell SS5 4NB
11:30am to 12pm
Tea on the Heath, Pond Lane, Hatfield Heath
12pm to 1pm
RSPB Rainham Marshes, New Tank Hill Road, Purfleet
2pm to 2:30pm
Great Hallingbury Village Hall, Church Road
3:30pm to 4pm
Little Hallingbury Village Hall, Lower Road
4pm to 5pm
Sainsburys Rayleigh Weir, 21 Stadium Way, Benfleet
Sunday 17 November
10am to 1pm
Leisure Centre, Parsonage Downs, Dunmow
11am to 12pm
Windermere Avenue, Hullbridge SS5 6JR
1:30pm to 2:30pm
Dunmow Malting Museum, Mill Lane, Great Dunmow
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
Don't forget there are also 14 district editions of Dispatch
If you'd like local news and updates about local policing in your district, consider trying one of the fourteen district editions of Dispatch which are sent out weekly on Wednesdays:
Basildon | Braintree | Brentwood | Castle Point | Chelmsford | Colchester| Epping Forest | Harlow | Maldon | Rochford | Southend | Tendring | Thurrock | Uttlesford
Keep your car safe
Cars with keyless entry can unlock automatically when the key is nearby, even if it’s in your pocket or bag.
Thieves can capture the signal from your key, even from inside your home, to unlock and steal your car.
To protect your keyless entry car, consider investing in a signal-blocking pouch, like a Faraday Pouch.
Stay vigilant and keep your car safe.
Be fraud smart
Invoice fraud happens when criminals pose as a company or organisation that you trust. Letting you know they have updated bank details and may send a fake invoice.
Always question changes in payment and get them verified before sending any money.
Join our team
Police staff jobs
Vehicle Technician £38,754
Senior Digital Forensic Technician £30,870
Senior Digital Forensic Specialist £45,546
Business Services Assistant £24,219
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
This week we remember
Jo-Ann Jennings
Jo-Ann Jennings was nearly 21 when she joined the regular force after serving as a special constable in her home town of Benfleet for almost two years. Her first posting was to Grays, where she met her responsibilities with vigour and determination, soon becoming a respected and valued member of the relief.
She welcomed the challenge of a transfer to Corringham in the autumn of 1989, and was readily accepted by her new colleagues. Jo-Ann Jennings was enthusiastically settling in at her new station when tragedy struck.
During the early hours of Remembrance Sunday 1989, she was passenger in a police car which was involved in an unexplained accident in Brentwood Road, Orsett. So severe were her injuries that she died shortly afterwards. Jo-Ann's Jennings colleagues remember her warmth, sincerity, strong sense of commitment, and the obvious pride with which she served the community.
Alexander ‘Alex’ Simpson Scott
Alexander Scott served with Essex County Constabulary from 1 June 1934. He became a motor patrol driver at Headquarters, qualifying as a first class driver and wireless operator.
When war began, traffic officers were armed with revolvers and given the extra job of guarding HQ. Teams of three men worked a 24 hour shift, taking it in turns to watch for fires and guard the front and back of the main buildings.
During a night raid on London, one German plane turned back towards Chelmsford and dropped its shrapnel bombs on HQ: Alex Scott was one of two officers killed.
Maurice ‘Dixie’ George Lee
Maurice Lee served with Essex County Constabulary from November 6, 1935. He was working at HQ one evening in November 1940 when a German bomber returning from a raid on London dropped a number of shrapnel bombs. One fell under the clock tower, one in the Chief Constable's garden, and the others in nearby fields. Dixie Lee and Alex Scott were two of the officers on guard duty that night and both were fatally injured.
Dixie Lee died later in the day at Chelmsford Hospital aged 29.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.