News 25 December to 31 December
 10,000 fewer crimes in 2023 – a year in 10 pictures from Essex Police
We have taken violent offenders off the streets. We have banned dangerous drivers from our major roads and rural lanes. And we’ve made sure criminals who exploit others, including children, through their trade in illegal drugs are given serious sentences in prison.
In fact, there were 10,000 fewer crimes this year compared to 2022. This is the result of thousands of hours’ work from hundreds of officers. This work is supported by all the good people coming forward to help us solve cases or prevent crimes from happening.
But we're not complacent. We promise we will continue to reduce crime, support victims of crime and bring criminals to justice. Our resolution for 2024 is to make our villages, our towns and our cities even safer.
 Drug dealers in Essex given 800 years in jail in 2023
Our Serious Violence Unit, set up in July 2020 to dismantle drugs gangs in Essex, has had a busy year.
Harlow: Man charged with attempted murder after officers attack
Officers had been engaging with a man at the scene who was making threats whilst armed with a knife.
 Two arrested as officers seize £40,000 and illicit drugs
In total, the two separate arrests have led officers to seize more than £40,000 in cash as well as a significant amount of what is believed to be Class A and Class B drugs and a number of electronic items.
Hockley: Missing man Marc Jones
Marc, 44, from Marlow, in Buckinghamshire, had travelled to see family in Essex before Christmas and was reported missing to us on Saturday 23 December.
 Experienced senior investigator recognised with British Empire Medal in King’s New Year’s Honours List
Our Head of Serious Case Review Kevin Macey is recognised for meritorious services to policing and victims
Harlow: Man arrested after officer attack
Officers had engaged with a man at the scene who was making threats whilst armed with a knife.
 ‘It’s been a crazy but amazing year’, says detective who’s raised £6,500 in honour of his father
Detective Sergeant Dan Thrale took on a mammoth set of challenges to raise money for the Stroke Association.
Over 200 arrests made for drink and drug driving offences in December
This December, officers have so far arrested over 200 people on suspicion of drink and drug driving offences.
 Jailed: Jay Pattinson
Six-year sentence for drug dealer operating across Essex
A drug dealer who looked to make an estimated £18,000 per week selling cocaine instead spent Christmas in prison thanks to our thorough investigation.
 Rural Engagement Team seize 161 vehicles in 2023
The RET investigate vehicle thefts and stolen agricultural machinery and help keep the rural roads safe by carrying out speed checks and patrolling.
 Robbie Sharp
Officers dismantle two drug lines in Southend and Chelmsford
Specialist officers dedicated to cracking drug supply networks across Essex have seen the last member of a county lines operation sentenced.
Robbie Sharp, 39, was the final offender to be sentenced after specialist officers with our Op Raptor team dismantled two lines running drugs from Wales to the streets of Southend and Chelmsford.
Various iterations of these lines used names of characters associated with the Super Mario video game series.
Our officers uncovered hundreds of bulk advertising messages sent out to customers between 2021 and 2022.
The ‘Mario/Luigi’ line saw drugs supplied on the streets of Southend, while the ‘Custom’ line saw drugs sold in Chelmsford.
Sharp was found to have played a significant role, higher up in the chain of both lines.
He was arrested after a warrant was executed at his address in Roman Road, London, and initially denied two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
He changed his pleas and admitted to his role on the third day of his trial.
Appearing at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday 20 December, he was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.
Chelmsford: Pair charged in Class A drugs investigation
Officers from across the force executed a warrant in Wickford on Thursday 14 December.
 Image copyright Google Maps
A12 disruption at Colchester, Tuesday 10 October 2023
Were you significantly inconvenienced by the disruption caused on the A12 at Stanway, Colchester on Tuesday 10 October? If so we want to hear from you.
On Tuesday 10 October 2023, we responded to an incident on the A12 at Stanway in Colchester, where a man was holding a protest on the footbridge over the road.
This resulted in both carriageways having to be closed for the man’s safety and that of the public, who may have been distracted by his actions.
His actions caused significant disruption to motorists using the road between 11.15am and 6.15pm on the day.
We would like to hear from anyone who has not yet spoken to us but believes they have been inconvenienced by the disruption.
A substantial number of people will have been simply delayed by the disruption but specifically we would like to hear from anyone who:
- could not attend medical appointments,
- could not attend planned work / School and therefore missed out on payment / education,
- missed, or were severely delayed, attending any significant life events.
Coming forward will help us progress our investigations and help ensure we can keep the county’s roads moving freely in future. You can get in contact with us by going to our website and completing our form.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex
Tuesday 2 January
10am to 12pm
Asda, Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh SS6 9RN
1pm to 3pm
Co-op Food, 45 Spa Road, Hockley SS5 4BE
Wednesday 3 January
10am to 12pm
Outside Co-Op, Old Harlow
Thursday 4 January
10.30am to 11.30am
One Colchester Hub 4-6 Long Wyre Street, CO1 1LH
11am to 12pm
Wood Cottage Tea Room, Felstead, Dunmow
12pm to 1pm
McDonalds, Staple Tye, Harlow
12.30pm to 1.30pm
Tiptree Tea Room, Museum and Jam Shop, Factory Hill, Tiptree, CO5 0RF
Saturday 6 January
9am to 11am
Gunpowder Park Run, Gunpowder Park, Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey
9am to 9.30am
Parkrun, Central Park, Chelmsford CM20PG
Sunday 7 January
11am to 12pm
Waltham Abbey Leisure Centre, Hillhouse, Waltham Abbey EN9 3EL
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
 Increase in theft of Ford Fiestas
We continue to see an increase in people reporting their Ford Fiestas being stolen.
Uniformed police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) have been out on foot patrol and in marked police cars to deter potential thieves and on the lookout for suspicious behaviour.
To help keep your vehicle safe, consider using extra security features such as a full round steering lock or on-board diagnostic (OBD) protection, which can help prevent thieves gaining access to your car.
If you see any suspicious behaviour, please report it to us. You can give us information by using our Digital 101 service on our website. If you see a crime happening, then call us on 999.
Our Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit work to tackle organised vehicle crime and last year recovered a record number of stolen vehicles. Every year the team are tracking down more stolen vehicles and building a bigger intelligence picture.
Be fraud smart
Have you received an email telling you your subscription is about to expire or set to renew?
Stop and check that it is not fake.
Do not click on a link and go to a site directly or use the phone number on a bill or previous contract.
Criminals send out fake renewal email from popular services with the aim to collect your data and steal your money.
 Join our team
Police staff jobs
Project Manager Estates Services £41,928
Business Services Assistant £23,121
Operational Lawyer £48,966
Information Officer £27,789
Detention Officers £26,334 to £30,424
Resolution Centre Investigators £28,299 to £32,754
Contact Handlers (full time) £27,279 - £32,754
Contact Handlers (part time) £16,103 per annum
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
New year, new challenge? Try volunteering
Our police cadet programme is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic local people to become volunteer police cadet leaders.
Being a cadet leader is hugely rewarding. Not only will you gain skills, experience and qualifications, but your mentorship can support young local people in growing into confident, well-rounded members of our community.
And you don't need a background in policing.
 This week we remember
 John Harvey
John Harvey served in the West Riding of Yorkshire before transferring to Essex in 1885. He was posted to Ardleigh on 6 January 1886 and promoted to sergeant there on 1 October 1891. He had a wife and three children, and at the time he died his wife was again pregnant.
On 4 January 1894 John Harvey made some enquiries on his beat, and patrolled for some distance with one of his constables who last saw him at about 7.30pm. The following morning John Harvey’s body was found head first down a well in the snow-covered garden of a cottage in Ardleigh; his watch had stopped at 8.21. There were injuries to the face, but it could not be determined with certainty how they had been caused. It has never been proved whether the Sergeant fell or whether he was pushed.
 Leslie Bloom
Leslie Bloom spent all his police service at Colchester, where he qualified as a class one driver and is remembered for his great interest in traffic and road safety. In the early hours of a January morning, Leslie Bloom was riding his motor cycle along Greenstead Road in Colchester on his way to work for an early turn shift, when he hit the back of a parked transit van. He died from his injuries shortly afterwards.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
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