News 11 March to 17 March
 Rural officers need your help to tackle cruel crime trend
Our rural engagement officers are appealing for the public’s help in tackling a disturbing crime trend which sees wild animals cruelly targeted for fun.
PC Jed Raven, our Wildlife Crime and Heritage officer, explains that there has been a rise in reports of animals being shot with catapults, air weapons and crossbows in urban areas and country parks.
Foxes, otters and other mammals, pigeons, swans and other waterfowl can be targets.
 Drugs, weapons and cash seized in crackdown on drug dealing gangs
County Lines Intensification Week has seen heightened activity against drug dealing gangs and a focus on protection for those exploited by these groups.
 'You will be listened to' - how we are tackling domestic abuse
Domestic abuse force lead Detective superintendent Matt Cornish explains the innovations Essex Police is making to stop violent abusers.
“Tackling violence of all kinds, but particularly domestic violence is one of the forces key objectives.
“We want people to feel safe in their homes and in their communities, and we’re doing things differently to achieve that.
“It’s not enough just to respond to incidents and investigate offences, we want to prevent them from happening.
“Our award-winning #Reflect campaign puts the focus on the perpetrator. It says to them ‘recognise your behaviour and seek help’.
“And we’ve worked with the Change Project who then help those people to change that behaviour.
“There are not many, if any, other domestic abuse campaigns which take this approach and we’ve seen that it works.
“Since it started, we’ve seen 700 people make contact with the Change Project. That’s incredible and it really could save lives.”
 Criminals ordered to pay more than £2.5million in 2023
Criminals in Essex must pay back more than £2.5million of their ill-gotten gains thanks to court orders made in 2023 under the Proceeds Of Crime Act (POCA).
A total of 105 confiscation orders were made by the Crown Courts of Essex under POCA, with a total of £2,576,691 ordered to be paid. These orders are based on how much a defendant has as assets and how much they are judged to have benefitted from their crime.
The courts will enforce that these payments are made, with default prison sentences often set if unpaid within a set period of time.
Over £2,000,000 worth of assets frozen by Economic Crime Unit
Two million pounds worth of assets have been frozen, and 15 arrests have been made as part of a month long intensification period in February 2024 under Operation Henhouse, led by the Serious Economic Crime Unit within Essex Police.
 Road Crime Team tackling crimes on highways
Our Road Crime Team are working with Kent and Metropolitan Police officer to keep our highways safe.
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.
Essex officers arrested seven people for a variety of offences, including burglary, dangerous driving and possession of drugs.
Seventy-three shop theft charges in a week
Of the 29 people arrested on suspicion of shoplifting in Essex last week, 19 people have been charged with a total of 73 offences of shop theft, plus two assaults.
Five people were arrested in each of the Basildon and Chelmsford districts; four in each of Colchester, Epping Forest and Harlow; three in Southend; two in the Thurrock district; and one in each of the Rochford and Uttlesford districts between Monday 4 and Sunday 10 March.
A Southend woman was charged with 33 offences of shop theft after she was arrested on 4 March 2024. She has already appeared before the city’s magistrates and has been remanded on conditional bail until 7 June 2024.
And a man has also appeared in court, accused of committing 13 shop thefts in Colchester. He’s been remanded in custody by Chelmsford magistrates until his next hearing on 8 April 2024.
 Meet Sergeant Jamie Challis
Find out why Police Sgt Jamie Challis made the switch from the Metropolitan Police Service to Essex Police in 2022 and what he likes most about working in Essex.
How Essex Police are tackling burglary across the county
The officer leading Essex Police’s strategic response to burglary has this week warned those intent on committing the crime 'just don’t do it – you’ll be caught'.
Last month, February, saw a 26 per cent reduction in residential burglaries compared to the previous month and just under a 30 per cent reduction compared to this time last year.
 Meet Project Manager for Estates Services, Danni Hammond
Find out about Essex Police Estates Services Project Manager Danni Hammond and how she works with a team of people to create suitable working environments for officers, staff and volunteers.
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 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex
Monday 18 March
9:30am to 10:30am
Soken House, 1 Triangle Shopping Centre, Rochford Way, Frinton on Sea.
10am to 11am
Joining Peabody, Walton Forum, High Street, Walton on Naze.
1:30pm to 2:30pm
Miracle House, Silver Island Way, Wickford, SS12 9NR
3pm to 4pm
Holland Library, Public Hall, Frinton Road, Holland on Sea.
Tuesday 19 March
10am to 11am
Gossip, 14 High Street, Great Wakering SS3 0EQ
10am to 11am
Oasis Cafe Frinton Free Church, Connaught Avenue, Frinton on Sea.
10:45am to 11:45am
Rochford Banking hub, West Street, Rochford SS4 1AJ
1pm to 2pm
Duchy Barn , Royal Square, Dedham
4pm to 5pm
Eastgate Food Court, Eastgate Centre, Basildon SS14 1EB
Wednesday 20 March
10am to 2pm
Clacton Town Centre, Careers Fair/Lets Talk, Christmas Tree Island, Clacton on Sea.
10am to 11am
Newport Coffee Morning, Church House, Newport
10am to 12pm
Outside Coffee Base, Newhall, Harlow
10am to 11am
Hullbridge Parish Council, 98 Ferry Road, Hullbridge, Hockley, SS5 6EX
11am to 12pm
Spacious Cafe, Thurrock Christian fellowship, 2-4 Chase Road
11am to 12pm
Henham Community Shop, High Street
2pm to 3pm
Grays Town park cafe
2pm to 3:30pm
Havens, Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff
2:30pm to 3:30pm
Southend High School For Boys, Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff
Thursday 21 March
10am to 11am
Nationwide Building Society, 14 London Road, Southend on sea
10am to 12pm
Walton Library, 52 High Street, Walton on Naze.
10:30am to 11:30am
Harwich Library, Kingsway, Dovercourt.
10:30am to 1pm
Harlow Library, Harlow Town Centre
10:30am to 11:30am
Grays Library, Thameside Complex Orsett Road, Grays
2:30pm to 3:30pm
Costa, Cherry Orchard Way, Rochford SS4 1PN
3pm to 4pm
East Tilbury Hub, Princess Avenue, East Tilbury
4pm to 5pm
Stansted Library, The Exchange, Stansted, CM24 8 AQ
Friday 22 March
9:30am to 10:30am
Mothers Kitchen, 6 Felmores End, Basildon SS13 1PN
10am to 12pm
Co-op Food, 45 Spa Road, Hockley SS5 4BE
10am to 12pm
Walton food bank, Standley Road, Walton on Naze.
12:30pm to 2:30pm
Oasis cafe, Frinton free church, Connaught Avenue, Frinton on Sea.
2pm to 3pm
Chadwell St Mary Information Centre, Brentwood Road
3:30pm to 4:30pm
Bulphan Village Hall, Church Road
5pm to 6pm
Co-op, Church Road, Stansted
Saturday 23 March
11am to 12pm
Sainsbury's, Cricketers Retail Park, Cricketers Way., Basildon SS13 1SA
Sunday 24 March
1pm to 4pm
St Marks Church, Hamlet Road, Southend on sea
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
 Check the keys
Most stolen vehicles are only ever taken with one key, be cautious if buying a car with only one key.
Make sure the metal part (which may be inside the actual fob) fits the door lock(s) & opens the vehicle.
Be fraud smart
Did you really miss a delivery? Be wary of fake emails and texts.
Stop. Do you remember ordering anything? If you did check the information matched the original order.
Challenge. Is it the same? Does it have the correct email domain?
Protect, If you think it is a scam, contact your bank and report it.
 Join our team
Police staff jobs
Criminal Justice Administrator £24,921
Vehicle Collection and Delivery Driver £23,121
Receptionist £23,121
Force Solicitor £70,860
Automatic Numberplate Field Operations Engineer £30,783
Senior Software Developer £38,349
Assistant Secretary £24,921
Assistant Caseworker £23,121
Practice Nurse Team Leader £41,928
Detention Officers £28,409 to £32,335
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
 This week we remember
Geoffrey William Smith
Geoffrey Smith served with the Grenadier Guards, and then joined Essex County Constabulary on 3 January 1939. After training at Headquarters he transferred to Grays but he was recalled to his regiment on 4 December 1939. He died on Wednesday, 24 March 1943 whilst serving as Serjeant 2614476 with 5th Battalion, Grenadier Guards.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
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