News 8 April to 14 April
 Commercial Vehicle Unit's year of success
In the last 12 months, our specialist Commercial Vehicle Unit made 37 arrests and seized 54 vehicles as they target criminality on Essex Roads.
 Firearms officer commended for outstanding bravery after saving the life of an armed man
An Essex Police firearms officer who saved the life of a vulnerable man in possession of a handgun and a knife has been commended for his outstanding bravery by the Chief Constable.
Sergeant Rob Partridge and several armed response colleagues were deployed to the scene after unarmed local officers spotted the man shortly after he was reported missing in the early hours.
They arrived to find the man, who had taken an overdose, sitting on a wall holding what appeared to be a gun. Rob started talking to him and, after 40 minutes, the man put down his weapon but then produced a knife and cut himself.
He collapsed and Rob and his colleagues placed him into the back of a police car and, while a colleague drove on blue lights to hospital, Rob performed CPR on the man.
M11: Driver who admitted driving the wrong way is disqualified
A driver who admitted driving the wrong way on the M11 to avoid traffic, has been disqualified and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.
Our Roads Policing officers were responding to a collision on northbound M11, between junctions 8 and 9, at around 8pm on Wednesday 29 November last year when they witnessed a Volkswagen car driving on the hard shoulder. The car was heading southbound, towards the oncoming traffic.
When stopped and questioned by officers at the scene, the driver admitted he had driven the wrong way to avoid being stuck in the traffic caused by the collision.
 Marine patrols to help keep you safe on the water
Our marine officers will be regularly patrolling anti-social behaviour hotspots around our coastline throughout the spring and summer.
 Wickford: Two arrested as part of investigation into counterfeit money production
Two men are currently in custody, after being arrested on suspicion of making counterfeit Bank of England £20 notes.
 Meet Chief Inspector Tony Atkin
Meet Chief Inspector Tony Atkin who transferred from the Metropolitan Police to Essex Police in 2021 and is now using his skills to protect and serve Essex.
 Grays: Jewellery stolen during burglary
Appeal for help to find jewellery stolen in burglary on Grange Road in Grays on 11 February.
 Billericay: Two arrests following fire at community hub
We were alerted to a fire to the rear of Chantry House, in High Street, at around 3pm on Thursday 4 April.
 Daniel French (left) and Paul Austin (right)
Basildon: Organised crime group jailed
Seven members of an organised crime group have been jailed for a total of almost 60 years after specialist detectives cracked an encrypted drug supply network.
 Harwich: Investigation following ATM theft
It was reported that suspects using a JCB digger had removed the ATM from the front of Home Bargains.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 15 April
10am to 11am
Ashdon Coffee Morning, 2 Radwinter Road, Ashdon
10:30am to 11:30am
The Orchards Cafe, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow, Chelmsford
11am to 12pm
Costa Coffee, Highbridge Retail Park, Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey EN9 1BY
Tuesday 16 April
10am to 12pm
Jubilee Hub, 3 Hill Street, Saffron Walden
10:30am to 12:30pm
Quaker Meeting House, Stansted
10:30am to 1pm
Mailer Lane, Manuden
1:30pm to 2:30pm
Miracle House, Silver island Way, Wickford, SS12 9NR
7:30pm to 8:30pm
Fryerning Village Hall, Mill Green Road, Fryerning, Ingatestone
Wednesday 17 April
10am to 12pm
The Stow, Harlow
10:30am to 11:30am
Walton Forum, High Street, Walton on Naze
11am to 12pm
Stanford Le Hope Library, High Street
12pm to 2pm
Buckhatch Nursery and Garden Centre, East Hanningfield Road, Chelmsford
Thursday 18 April
9:30am to 10:30am
CVST Harwich Hub, High Street, Dovercourt.
10:30am to 12pm
Walton Library, 52 High Street, Walton on Naze.
10:30am to 11:30am
W Howard & Son Funeral Directors, 32 High Road, Orsett
10:30am to 1pm
Harlow Library, Harlow Town Centre
1:30pm to 2:30pm
The Beacon Centre, Drake Road, Chafford Hundred
2:30pm to 3:30pm
Costa, Cherry Orchard Way, Rochford SS4 1PN
Friday 19 April
10am to 12pm
Joining Peabody at Walton Food Bank, Standley Road, Walton on Naze.
10:30am to 11:30am
Flowers Community Hall, Lime Close, South Ockendon
11am to 12pm
Kent Elms Library, 1 Rayleigh Road, Eastwood
Saturday 20 April
10:00am to 12:00pm
Little Hallingbury Village Hall, Lower Road, Little Hallingbury
10am to 12pm
FourEighty Cafe, 80 Hutton Road, Shenfield
10:30am to 11:30am
Saint Peter And St. Paul, Orsett Road, Horndon on The Hill
10:30am to 2pm
Annual open day at Happy Valley bowls club, Sladburys Lane, Clacton on Sea.
3pm to 4pm
Co-op, Lower Street, Stansted
Sunday 21 April
3pm to 4pm
Marks & Spencer's, Arthur Ransome Way, Walton on Naze.
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
 Driving after drinking alcohol
There is no way to know how much you can drink and stay under the limit, since it can depend on your weight, age, metabolism, the amount of food you've eaten and other factors.
It's impossible to get alcohol out of your system quickly, it always takes time. A shower, a cup of coffee or other ways of ‘sobering up’ may make you feel better but won’t remove the alcohol from your system.
If you've been out drinking, you may still be affected by alcohol the next day and could lose your licence if you drive and are still over the legal limit.
Alcohol affects everyone differently and any amount can impair your ability to drive. The only safe option is to avoid alcohol completely if you’re driving as even ‘just one drink’ could put you over the limit.
If you’re driving, don’t drink any alcohol at all.
If a driver kills someone while under the influence of alcohol, they can be charged with causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs. Since 28 June 2022, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
Be fraud smart
Did you really miss a delivery?
Be aware 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 to Action Fraud.
 Join our team
Police staff jobs
IT - EUC Field Operations Engineer £28,290
IT - Senior Software Developer £38,349
Vehicle Recovery Administrator £24,921
Investigative Coach and Trainer £30,783
Detention Officers £28,409 to £32,335
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
 This week we remember
Joseph Farmer
After leaving school Joseph Farmer joined the army, serving with the Coldstream Guards. On discharge from The Guards he worked as a labourer before joining Essex Constabulary as Police Constable 256 on December 7, 1905.
At the outbreak of war in August 1914, Farmer, a reservist, was recalled to his regiment as Private. After a long day of intense fighting in France, along with hundreds of others, Joseph was sent to a prisoner of war camp at Doeberitz before being moved again to the Eastern Front where he died on April 15 1917.
Leonard Douglas Bannister
Leonard Bannister joined Essex County Constabulary on 6th June 1939, having previously served in the Coldstream Guards from 31st August 1932 to 1st June 1939.
After training at Headquarters, he was posted to Maldon from 5th August 1939. However, on 1st December 1939, like many of his colleagues, he was recalled to his former regiment. On 11th February 1940 he married Emily Cissie Bannister, of Romford. Within a matter of weeks he was fatally injured in a motor accident and died on Monday 15th April 1940. By that stage he had transferred to become Lance Corporal 2655673 with the Corps of Military Police. He was aged 25.
 Adam John Eves
Acting Sergeant Adam Eves, a native of Hutton, near Brentwood, joined the Essex County Constabulary at the age of 20 years, and in March 1877 was appointed Constable No. 63. He served at various stations throughout the county before being promoted to the rank of Acting Sergeant and posted to Purleigh in January 1891. He was brutally murdered on 16 April 1893 whilst carrying out his duties.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
 Obituaries
Michael Taylor
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Michael Taylor who retired as a Sergeant in 2018 and served at Leigh, Southend, Grays, Basildon, Rayleigh and Custody.
He passed away on 6 March 2024 aged 62 years.
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