News 6 March to 12 March
 Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan
“Protecting women is a priority – and we’re innovating and keeping people safe.”
That’s from our officer who leads our work tackling violence against women and girls.
Speaking on International Women’s Day, Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan says the force is making progress in tackling issues women face.
She said the force has innovated to better support victims, protect them, and investigate offences: “In Essex, we’re doing things differently.
Our officers have made nearly 20 arrests connected to domestic abuse investigations in just one day.
In total 19 arrests were made across the county on Wednesday 6 March and it comes as today marks 10 years since the inception of Clare’s Law – which gives you an opportunity to find out information about a potentially abusive partner.
 Tyrese Smith
A 20-year-old man has been given an extended seven-year sentence and deemed a risk to the public after engaging in sexual activity with a child.
Tyrese Smith, of Grove Road, Romford, will serve a four year and eight month sentence in a young offenders' institution, before he is subject to an extended period on license of two years and four months.
This sentence follows his guilty pleas to all charges Essex Police secured against him, including three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.
Officers with our Child Abuse Investigations Team (CAIT), along with support from the Adult Sexual Abuse Investigation Team (ASAIT) and Grays Local Investigations Team had launched enquiries after concerns were raised over reported sexual activity between Smith and a child in the Tilbury area last year.
Officers investigating fires in Tilbury and Pitsea
Detectives investigating two fires are appealing for witnesses and information to assist them.
A fire was discovered at a building in Howard Crescent, Pitsea, when a patrolling police crew came upon the incident shortly after midnight on Wednesday 6 March and alerted all emergency services.
In a second incident, staff conducting a routine visit to Tilbury Police Station, Civic Square, Tilbury discovered a fire shortly before 2pm, later the same day.
This building is currently non-operational and was unoccupied at the time.
Thankfully, no one was injured in either fire.
 Stolen Kent vehicle found in Purfleet
On Tuesday 12 March officers from the Community Policing Team worked together with a victim, to recover their stolen vehicle.
The member of public had been live tracking his stolen digger from the Kent area, when they reached out to our team. The digger had been stolen just hours earlier, and was located in Purfleet.
When the team arrived, several suspects made off from the scene. The officers found the stolen digger secured to a trailer, which was attached to a Ford Transit van. The trailer and van had previously been stolen back in August 2023.
The van, trailer and digger were recovered for forensic examination.
11 guilty of nuisance after disruption at M25 roundabout
Eleven members of a group which blocked a main roundabout underneath the M25, which inconvenienced a significant number of motorists, have been convicted as a result of their actions.
The group blocked the key junction close to junction 31 of the M25, at the A282, early on 13 September 2021.
In total, the Essex Police investigation was able to show a total estimated economic impact of about £118,000 and about 6,500 hours of vehicle delay hours.
A man has been charged and remanded into custody for a drug related offence, after a routine stop check on the A12 at around 8am on Friday, 8 March.
The driver was arrested at the scene. Dave Steingold, 52 of London Road, Grays has since been charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of an offensive weapon.
He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Saturday, 9 March.
Last Friday, our Road Crime Team (RCT) joined forces with the Metropolitan Police and Kent Police officers to tackle cross-border road-related crime.
RCT led Essex Police teams from across the force, including Dog Unit, Roads Policing and Operational Support Group, to tackle road-related crime in the west of the county.
The three forces’ coordinated proactive patrols on Friday 8 March and focussed on the area where the Dartford Tunnel, M25 and A13 met, resulting in 13 arrests in Essex and Kent along with 3 stolen vehicles being recovered and 12 vehicles seized for no insurance.
 Community youth engagement continues
Thursday 7 March, officers from the Community Policing Team attended Hammond Hall to meet and talk to the East Tilbury Scouts Cubs group.
The officers provided a 'show and tell' of Policing for Essex.
The children were shown the different types of police uniform and equipment, including the different types of hats worn, handcuffs used, batons, tactical vests, jackets and were shown the marked Ford Ranger and it's very bright blue lights.
The children threw out some very good, quick-fire questions about policing, and invited officers to join in with some team building dodgeball games.
If you're involved with any local youth groups and would like us to attend and give a crime prevention talk, or would just like officers to talk about general policing, please email: thurrockcommunitypolicingteam@essex.police.uk
 Not just crime fighters
Friday 8 March, Community Safety and Engagement Officers visited the Treasure Children Forever pre-school, in Corringham.
The officers showcased some police uniform, including different types of police hats, which the children got to try on.
They even got to sit inside our marked Ford Ranger and see the blue lights.
Moments like these are very important. Young children need to understand that police are not just there to lock-up "bad guys", but that we're a place of safety, and if they're ever in trouble or find themselves lost, we are here to help.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Wednesday 20 March 11am to 12am
Spacious Place Café, Corringham
Wednesday 20 March 2pm to 3pm
Grays Town Park, Grays
Thursday 21 March 10:30am to 11:30pm
Grays Library, Grays
Thursday 21 March 3pm to 4pm
East Tilbury hub, Princess Avenue, East Tilbury
Friday 22 March 2pm to 3pm
Chadwell St. Mary Information Centre, Brentwood Road
Friday 22 March 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Community Café, Bulphan Village Hall, Church Road
Wednesday 27 March 10am to 11am
Tilbury Hub, Civic Square
 Sat-Nav suction cups are a dead giveaway
Leaving mounts, suction cup marks on windows or cables on view could give away that you use a sat nav, smartphone or another device in your car.
Even if they can't see the device an opportunistic thief might still break in to see if it’s stored in the car, out of sight.
Stay safe, hide any electrical items and leave no clues.
Be fraud smart
Sometimes what appears to be an innocent game posted on social media could be criminals looking to gain access to your personal information.
Seemingly harmless questions can provide details that can assist them in stealing your identity.
For example:
- What is your film star name?
- First Pet?
- Mother’s Maiden Name?
- Your first car?
- Describe the city you were born in with a clue? (revealing your town of birth).
All of these are potentially answers to bank account security questions.
 Do I have to wait 24 hours before I can report a person missing?
There is no rule that states you must wait 24 hours to report a missing person. It depends on the person who is missing, their age, mental state and vulnerability.
If the missing person is a child, elderly or a person in vulnerable state, you need to alert the police straight away.
If the person is late home or late for an appointment, then it is sensible to try and contact the person or the last place they were, then wait a reasonable amount of time prior to contacting the police.
For more information please see below and the websites in Related Information.
Missing People is the UK's only charity dedicated to finding missing people, it supports the work of police, Social Services and works in partnership with other agencies.
Missing People - for sightings and to report someone missing:
Runaway Helpline - for young people under 18, to call who are away from home or care:
Message Home - for missing adults, allowing them to pass a message home:
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