News 27 March to 2 April
 Cash in transit robbery
During the incident, the driver was assaulted and a box containing cash was taken.
A short time later, a vehicle was stopped and two men were arrested and questioned in custody.
Jamie Sherfield, 40, of no fixed abode, has now been charged with robbery and failing to provide sample for drink or drug testing.
He has been remanded into custody to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 1 April.
A second man – aged 46 and from Colchester – who was arrested on suspicion of robbery has been released on conditional bail until May whilst enquiries continue.
Town centre thief tracked down
Aaron Tomlin was made the subject of the criminal behaviour order (CBO) in February which made it an offence for him to touch any motor vehicle, apart from his own, without consent, or to enter any driveway without the consent of the owner.
The order was applied for by our Colchester town centre team (TCT) after Tomlin was convicted of a number of theft from motor vehicle offences which took place across the city centre.
 Commercial Vehicle Unit use new camera to record road offences
Our Commercial Vehicle Unit have acquired a new camera that will help them identify offenders and capture evidence of offences being committed on our roads, making it easier to prosecute those committing road-related offences.
Catchpole Road area: Man charged after car stolen
It was reported a vehicle had been taken from an address in Catchpole Road area at around 4am on 26 March.
Officers responded and located the vehicle on the A12 around an hour later.
The vehicle was brought to a stop at junction 19 and a man was arrested.
Chitts Hill: Man charged following pursuit
A vehicle had been directed to stop by officers in Chitts Hill, Colchester at around 12.35am on 26 March.
However, it failed to do so leading to a pursuit which ended when the driver stopped and decamped in Church Lane, Ridgewell.
During the incident officer reported their car had been rammed.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Thursday 4 April 10:30am to 11:30am
Community 360, Long Wyre Street
Saturday 6 April 10am to 12pm
Marks Tey Community Centre
Saturday 6 April 3pm to 4pm
Colchester Library, 21 Trinity Square, Colchester, CO1 1JB
Monday 8 April 9am to 4.30pm
Premier league Kicks Football tournament, Shrub end community Centre
Monday 8 April 10am to 11am
St Cedd’s Coffee morning, Church Hall, Iceni Way, CO2 9EH
Tuesday 9 April 10am to 11am
Coffee Hog 48a William Harris Way, Colchester CO2 8WJ
Saturday 13 April 11am to 12pm
Tesco’s, Highwoods
Age well coffee morning Monday 15 April 2pm to 4pm
Age Well East 63 North Hill, Colchester, CO1 1PX
Tuesday 16 April 10am to 12pm
Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT,
Wednesday 17 April 10am to 11am
Greggs St Christopher Road, Colchester
Coffee Morning Methodist church Wednesday 17 April 10am to 11am
Wimpole Road Methodist Church, Wimpole Road Colchester
Friday 19 April 5pm to 6pm
Starbucks, Sheepen Road, Retail Park, Colchester, CO3 3LL
Wednesday 24 April 10:30am to 12pm
Oak tree Café Highwoods square
Age well coffee morning Thursday 25 April 10am to 12pm
Age Well East 63 North Hill, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PX
Thursday 25 April 10:30am to 11:30am
University of Essex , Zest Café
 Tips for making other people feel safer on the streets
Keep your distance
When walking behind someone, particularly at night, try to leave a good amount of distance between yourself and the person ahead of you. Remember that the closer you are, the more threatening you might seem.
Don’t stare
A stranger staring at you can be intimidating and unsettling. Focus on something else to show you’re not a threat. Look out of the window, message a friend, or read a book or newspaper.
Cross the road
Somebody running up behind you, particularly at night, can be frightening.
If you’re out for an evening run, or walk, and see someone walking ahead, cross the road, call out to let them know you’re about to run by them or make sure to leave a good amount of space when you pass them.
Keep comments to yourself
What you might think of as just a bit of fun, or flattery, can be insulting, upsetting or even scary to someone else. Keep any comments or opinions to yourself.
Keep your friends in line
If you're in a group of people where someone is harassing another person on the street, try to calm the situation. They may just need to be told that they're behaving inappropriately.
Be an active bystander
If you notice someone is uncomfortable with another person's behaviour, show your support by being an active bystander. It can be as simple as standing between a person and their harasser to block their line of sight. Ask that person if they need any help, and back up anyone else who is intervening.
Be fraud smart
Electoral fraud is when someone tries to cheat in an election by breaking electoral laws. It is officially called electoral malpractice.
Electoral fraud includes:
Campaigning
- not declaring campaign expenses properly
- not including the names and addresses of the printer and who the leaflets were printed for on election leaflets
Voting
- pretending to be someone else to use their vote
- bribing someone to vote the way you want them to
- abusing a position of power to persuade someone to vote your way, for example a religious leader telling their congregation which way to vote
Becoming a candidate
- lying on a candidate nomination form
- forging or making up signatures on a candidate nomination form
- registering as a candidate when you are ineligible, for example because of your occupation or criminal record
Registration
- registering to vote when you are not entitled to vote
- lying about the deadline for people to register to vote, to stop people bothering to register
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 What should I do if I suspect a child is being abused?
Spotting the signs of child abuse can be difficult. Children might not want to tell anyone, or they may not even be aware it is happening.
If you are unsure, the best thing to do is talk - to the child, to a teacher or another responsible adult. It is always helpful to get someone else's perspective.
Symptoms that may be cause for concern include;
- Talk of being left home alone or with strangers
- Excessive violence with other children
- Lack of social skills and struggles to make friends
- Has a poor relationship with their parent(s)
- Shows disruptive behaviour at school
- Becomes secretive and reluctant to share information
If you have noticed any of the above and are unsure whether to report, do not wait until you are certain. You should contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 and a counsellor will then be able to assess the situation before offering further advice.
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