News 24 January - 31 January
 Project Servator deployments to keep people safe
Our specially trained Project Servator officers have been in the city centre.
Project Servator is a policing tactic that works to disrupt a range of criminal activity, including terrorism, while providing a reassuring presence for the public.
An important part of any Project Servator deployment is engagement with the public. Officers talk to passers-by about what the police are doing in the area and how they can help by being vigilant and reporting anything unusual.
If you would like to find out more about Project Servator, please click read more
An overview of Response Policing this month with "B Shift"
We followed Colchester’s B shift local policing team (LPT) throughout January. The local policing teams are those who are our very front line officers who respond to 999 calls while investigating volume crime. Throughout this summary you will see the range of incidents they can get called to.
January saw storm Henk cause disruption across the road networks with trees blown down and blocking roads, and severe flooding on some roads. LPT officers have been out to respond to calls to get roads back open (or close) them to prevent injury and get the roads back to normal.
Officers from B shift have dealt with a number of incidents involving them utilising powers under the mental health act, one of which was after attending reports of a man stood on the edge of a bridge, after lots of communication and compassion the officers encouraged the man back to the right side and used their powers to detain him to get him some help and treatment, they also assisted the ambulance service executed a mental health warrant for a male who was not very well and extremely violent, taking 6 officers to remove him safely from the property. Using this amount of officers means we can take better care and control of the man, preventing anyone getting injured.
Just last weekend the team started their shift at 6am, with 12 officers and 2 sergeants immediately the team deployed 3 officers to preserve a scene from an incident the night before to preserve evidence for the investigation teams, they also deployed officers to our custody block to help keep prisoners at risk of harming themselves safe. Within an hour of the duty the remaining officers attended a domestic incident and arrested the alleged perpetrator and then returned to support the victim and gather evidence. Even the sergeant on the day interviewed a detainee as his staff were all busy with other commitments. Throughout the early shift the team made 5 arrests, attended a burglary at a business premises and located a person suffering with dementia who had absconded from the hospital and fallen over and injured their face. One of the arrests they made was as a result of a stop and search whereby a knuckle duster was found.
B shift come across a dog taking herself for a walk. The officers, made a bit of a fuss over the dog whose name was Rosie and took her for a quick tour of where she was found to try and locate the owner. After not being able to locate the owner, Rosie had a quick visit to the police station for more of a fuss to be made and then taken to the vets who confirmed the owner details through her microchip and they were happily reunited shortly after.
The team also attended and secured the evidence to charge a juvenile with ABH and criminal damage whereby he was remanded to appear at court. They charged a man with 9 offences which include possessing an offensive weapon, assaulting an emergency worker, theft offences and other assault offences, he was remanded in custody. Another arrest was regarding a warrant for failing to appear at court, upon arrest he was found to be in possession of a class B drug and in custody was racially abusive and assaulted three officers drawing blood from one of the officers. Another arrest made by the team was following them responding to a call from another agency whereby someone they had visited had slashed their tyres and threatened them.
They have also investigated a number of high risk missing person incidents whereby they spend time searching area’s, checking CCTV, speaking to professionals, family members, friends and members of the public. Risk is graded on the likeliness they will come to harm while missing so these people are likely to suffer with severe medical or mental health problems, or have a suggestion they are at risk.
The team also charged a male with criminal damage and outraging public decency after officers were called to a neighbour dispute that had got out of hand.
Officers from the team have also liaised with CPS over ongoing investigations whereby they were authorised to charge people with the following:
A Female was charged with racially aggravated public order and Assaulting an Emergency Worker
A Male charged with Assaulting an Emergency Worker and Having a Dog Dangerously Out of Control
A Male and female were charged with Possession with Intent to Supply Class A drugs and the male was also charged with Dangerous Driving
This is just some of the work the team has undertaken this month.
If you are interested in a varied career click read more.
Two arrested following assault
Two men have been arrested following an assault in Colchester.
A man in his 50s was left needing surgery to his face following an incident in Red Lion Walk at around 3am on Saturday (27 January).
It was reported he been assaulted having come into contact with a fight involving two people.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Lets Talk - Wednesday 31 Jan, 2024 10:00am to 11:00am
MARKS AND SPENCER, STANE RETAIL PARK, COLCHESTER
Lets Talk Thursday 1 Feb, 2024 10:30am to 11:30am
ONE COLCHESTER HUB 4-6 LONG WYRE STREET
Lets talk - Thursday 1 Feb, 2024 12:30pm to 1:30pm TIPTREE TEA ROOM, MUSEUM AND JAM SHOP, FACTORY HILL, TIPTREE
 Window security
Burglars target windows as they can offer easier access than doors. Check how your windows look from the outside, removing potential access points where you can.
Are there walls, bins or garden furniture that could be used to reach windows? For windows that are within reaching distance such as ground floors,
1. Laminated glass or security film is recommended for ground floor and accessible windows.
2. Sash stops prevent anyone opening the sash window enough to climb through.
3. Key operated locks are recommended for window types that open out, rather than up, and any ground floor or accessible windows. Remember, window locks are only effective if used, so check that you have locked them before you leave home or go to bed.
4. Window opening restrictors allow you to ventilate your home but make sure they can’t be picked and unlocked from outside.
Be fraud smart
Banking and payment card scams
Banking and payment card scams involve the fraudulent use of a victim’s card details to withdraw cash or buy goods. With cases of card fraud on the increase, it’s more important than ever to protect your card details when you’re out and about and when you're shopping online.
Phone scams
Your bank and the police will never ring and ask you to verify your PIN, withdraw cash or purchase high-value goods. They’ll also never come to your home to collect your card, cash or purchased items. If you get a call like this, end the call.
If you get a call from your bank or the police, make sure you know who the person is before handing over any personal details. You can do this by calling your bank (the number on the back of your card) or the police (101) on a different phone line.
To get a different line, use a phone owned by a family member, friend or neighbour. This is because scammers can keep phone lines open after pretending to hang up. So while you think you’re making a new phone call, the line is still open to the scammer, who pretends to be someone from your bank or the police (also see Courier fraud).
Depending on your bank, the security questions they ask may be different, but they’ll never ask you to authorise anything by entering your PIN into your phone.
Never send money abroad to a person you've never met or to anyone you don’t actually know and trust.
Likewise, never agree to keep your online relationship a secret. This is a ploy to get you not to tell your family and friends, who’ll see the scam for exactly what it is.
Equally, don’t accept any offer of money. A scammer may ask you to accept money from them into your own bank account, using a convincing story as to why they can’t use their own account.
The circumstances may seem genuine, but you may unwittingly be committing the criminal offence of money laundering.
 Some rubbish has been fly tipped, who do i call to remove it?
If the rubbish is on private land it is the landowner's responsibility to remove it. The council can come and remove it but this may incur a charge.
If the rubbish is on council land you should contact your local authority to come and remove it.
You should not try and remove the rubbish yourself if you do not know what substance has been disposed of as it may be harmful.
|
