Essex Police Weekly Update - Issue #29
3 January to 9 January 2022
Can you help our Dog Section?
Can you help? We have a number of training courses for our Police Dog starting soon and we are on the lookout for training venues across the county. If you have or know of any empty buildings we could use please contact PC Graham Nuth through our website.
Fairstead: Cyclist dies following collision — www.essex.police.uk
Officers appeal for information after a cyclist died following a collision on Fairstead Road on Sunday 9 January.
Witham: Robbery at Newland Street betting shop — www.essex.police.uk
Detectives are appealing for information after cash was stolen from Betfred betting shop around 11.50pm on Friday 7 January.
Basildon: Wedding ring stolen — www.essex.police.uk
We are appealing for information about the theft of a wedding ring from a man who was in Basildon Hospital for treatment.
Westcliff: Canewdon Road robbery — www.essex.police.uk
Detectives appeal for witnesses following reports of a robbery on Canewdon Road, around 2am on Sunday 9 January.
Colchester: Vineyard Street assault — www.essex.police.uk
Detectives appeal for information following reports a man was assaulted on Vineyard Street at around 3am on Saturday 8 January.
Pitsea: Man charged with murder of Dwayne Forrester — www.essex.police.uk
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Dwayne Forrester.
Twenty-one year-old Dwayne was found injured in Little Garth, Pitsea on 7 July 2018 and sadly later died.
Christmas drink and drug drive arrests — www.essex.police.uk
Officers arrested 280 people on suspicion of drink or drug-driving or for failing to provide a specimen over the festive period.
Keeping Essex safe: Stolen van recovered on A12 and six arrested for other offences — www.essex.police.uk
Officers recovered stolen transit van travelling on the A12 towards Chelmsford and arrested six more suspects on suspicion of other crimes as part of work to keep Essex safe.
Tilbury: Man charged with attempted murder — www.essex.police.uk
A man has been charged in connection with a serious assault in Tilbury which has left a man in a life-threatening condition.
Crime prevention and fraud advice
Stay alert to fraudulent text message scams telling people that they've been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and are required to pay for a PCR test.
Remember PCR tests are free.
Take steps to avoid becoming a victim to scammers:
1. Be alert to links and attachments in unexpected text messages or emails
2. Do not respond to requests for money, passwords or financial details.
3. If you need to book or order a PCR test, use the official NHS COVID website: https://www.nhs.uk/.../testing/get-tested-for-coronavirus/
4. If you receive a call and suspect it to be fraudulent, hang up.
Report a suspicious text message by forwarding it to 7726, free of charge, and forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report it through our website.
For more advice on protecting yourself from fraud visit our advice pages on our website.
Join Essex Police - police staff job vacancies
Evidence Recovery Technician £21,135 to £34,578
Geographic Facilities Assistant £18,501 to £19,032
Content, Platforms and Insight Manager £43,860 to £47,058
Campaigns and Events Officer £34,578 to £37,281
Customer Contact Administrator £21,135 to £23,406
Senior Category Manager £41,226 to £51,303
Admin Support Officer scale 5
Resolution Centre Investigator £21,385 to £23,406
Contact Handler £19,702 to £20,199
Visit our website for full details, job descriptions and links to apply online
New year, new start - become a police officer
"I joined to make a difference” meet Chelmsford’s newest officer — www.essex.police.uk
PC Keely Duncan attested as a new police constable in December. She'll be based on Chelmsford’s Local Policing Team.
After volunteering with Essex Police as a Special Constable for two years, PC Duncan found herself reflecting on her day job in retail and wondering if she could help her community more. She said: “Being a Special Constable was full of moments where I knew I’d made a real impact on a victim of crime, or the loved ones of someone who had passed away unexpectedly."
Read more about Keely's training and see if you #FitTheBill for a career as a constable with Essex Police.
This week we will remember
This week we remember Gary Veal, Lawrence Hartman and William Martin.
Gary Veal — www.essex.police.uk
Police Constable Gary John Veal joined Essex Police in 1990 and subsequently worked at Colchester, Mersea and Tiptree. In 1999 he transferred to the Road Policing Unit, serving at both Chelmsford and Stanway.
During the evening of 12 January, 2002 Gary was struck by a car while assisting at the scene of a broken-down vehicle on the A12 Colchester by-pass. He was taken to Colchester General Hospital, suffering from head and internal injuries, and subsequently died the following day.
He left a wife, Tina, and two daughters, aged 7 and 2.
The February 2002 edition of Essex Police's own newspaper, 'The Law' carried the following report of Gary's funeral which was held at St Albright's Parish Church, Stanway on 25th January 2002. Read the article on the Memorial Trust website.
Lawrence Hartman
Lawrence Charles Hartman served with Essex County Constabulary from 26 September 1938 and died on 14 January 1944.
On Friday, 14 January 1944 he was the rear gunner in the seven man crew of a Lancaster Mk. III aircraft, number JA935, which departed from R.A.F. Oakington at 4.59 p.m. The Lancaster, which is thought to have been participating on an air raid, came down in Germany with the loss of all seven crew. 31 year-old Lawrence was buried in grave 3. B. 18-19. at Hanover War Cemetery in Germany.
William Martin
William Martin served with Essex County Constabulary from 1 April 1914 and died on 14 January 1917.
William enlisted with the Scots Guards after leaving school and then joined Essex County Constabulary. He barely completed four months' service as a police officer when he was recalled to the Colours.
He travelled with the 1st Battalion Scots Guards to France with the original British Expeditionary Force and joined the Guards Machine Gun Corps. They played a prominent part in the fighting between September 15 and 25, 1916, but sustained heavy losses. William died in action on 14 January.