News 14 August to 20 August
Roads Policing is on the move
Our Roads Policing Unit (RPU) provide a specialist response across our road network. Their expertise helps to keep our roads safe and traffic moving. They work to make sure those road users who put others at risk by speeding, driving dangerously or any other illegal behaviour, are held accountable for their actions. Our officers look for those using our roads to commit crime and disrupt criminal activity.
So that our officers can be even more effective on our roads, and better support the Strategic Road Network (SRN), our RPU based at Stanway, Colchester, have moved to our sites in Boreham and Thorpe-Le-Soken.
Our RPU will continue to operate 24/7 across the county. They will continue to work alongside officers and staff throughout Essex to help people and catch criminals. They will also continue to work to prevent and reduce road deaths and serious collisions on our roads.
In line with our Estates Strategy, the site at Stanway, which is not open to the public, will be sold. Funds will be reinvested into your police service.
This move does not affect the police teams who currently, and will continue to, work from Colchester Police Station. The sale of the Stanway site will not change local policing delivery or our visibility in our communities.
A serial shoplifter was jailed on his birthday for 16 months after breaching a criminal behaviour order eight times in a fortnight.
Jason Glasgow spent his 36th birthday in Ipswich Crown Court, having previously admitted breaching a criminal behaviour order (CBO) eight times between 27 May and 9 June 2024, including four times on 2 June 2024.
He also admitted committing eight thefts from two Colchester Co-op stores in Hawthorne Avenue, Greenstead, and Wimpole Road.
He was spotted and arrested by an officer from Colchester Local Policing Team just half an hour after a theft was reported by the Wimpole Road Co-op on 9 June 2024.
Glasgow was out of prison on licence at the time after having been jailed in April 2024 for 12 weeks and banned from all Co-op stores in Essex for three years under the terms of a court-imposed criminal behaviour order.
Then, he had admitted to committing nine shop thefts, involving £400 of food and drink, in less than a month.
On 8 August 2024, Glasgow was jailed for 16 months for the CBO breaches and for six months, to run concurrently, for the shop thefts.
The court heard that Glasgow had stolen more than £600 of meat, fish, coffee, laundry detergent and air fresheners from the two shops,
Sergeant Chris Bird, of Colchester Local Policing Team, says:
“Glasgow was issued with a criminal behaviour order four months ago but decided to ignore it so he’s now had to face the consequences of his actions and go back to jail.
“We take reports of shoplifting seriously but we recognise it can go unreported so we urge retailers and their staff to report shop theft, abuse and anti-social behaviour to us.
“This way, we can work with our Business Crime Team to spot emerging trends and direct our operational activity where it is most needed. Where we have the evidence, we’ll look to secure charges.
“Our business crime officers can also work with store chains and independent retailers to identify areas where they can strengthen their security and crime prevention practices to help keep their staff, customers and business safe.
Criminal behaviour orders
A criminal behaviour order, or CBO, is a set of conditions placed on an individual by a court, which will prevent the person from causing further harm against the business.
The conditions could include banning the individual from entering a particular shop or area, such as a town centre, for a defined amount of time. If the person breaches the order, it could result in a prison sentence.
This has proved to be a successful way of reducing offences such as theft or abuse towards staff.
CBOs also tackle the underlying causes of offending and, where appropriate, require offenders to engage in treatment services, such as drug and alcohol addiction support.
It is an offence to breach the terms of a CBO and courts can impose a maximum sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment or a fine, or both, for an adult convicted of breaching them.
We are urging the owners of specific varieties of knives and machetes to hand them in to us in exchange for compensation ahead of fresh legislation banning their sale and possession.
A national surrender and compensation scheme has been launched by the Home Office ahead of a new law making it illegal to own or sell ‘zombie-style’ knives and machetes.
Police forces across England and Wales, including Essex Police, are participating in the scheme, which runs from 26 August until 23 September 2024.
From 24 September this year, zombie-style knives and machetes will be outlawed by new legislation.
The law will cover the manufacture, supply, sale, possession and importation of these weapons.
Current lawful owners of specified zombie knives and machetes will be able to submit a claim for compensation at the same time that they surrender the weapons to us under the scheme.
Further details of the surrender scheme, a list of items covered, their definition and guidance on how to transport them safely can be found by visiting the Home Office's dedicated web page.
Eligible knives can be handed in at the following police stations:
South Essex
- Basildon Police Station, Great Oaks, Basildon SS14 1EJ
- Southend Police Station, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6ES
West Essex
- Harlow Police Station, The High, Harlow, CN20 1HG
- Grays Police Station, Brook Road, Grays, RM17 5BX
North Essex
- Colchester Police Station, 10 Southway, Colchester CO3 3BU
- Clacton Police Station, 8 Beatrice Road, Clacton CO15 1ET
- Braintree Police Station, Blyths Meadow, Braintree CM7 3DJ
- Chelmsford Police Station, New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1NF
Other varieties of knives not specified under the new legislation can still be deposited in designated amnesty bins across Essex, however these will not be covered by the government’s compensation scheme.
We will also be working closely with retailers around the sale of these weapons, ensuring they are aware of the new law and abide by it.
'We'll use any tools at our disposal to tackle knife crime'
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Hughes, from our Serious Violence Unit, said:
“We welcome this new legislation which will supplement and enhance our ongoing work to tackle knife crime in Essex.
“These weapons have always been illegal to possess in a public place, but this tightening and strengthening of the legislation will give us more powers to ensure these dangerous items are not sold, kept or used under any circumstances.
“We have always been very clear that the carrying of a knife can only lead to disaster and misery.
“Even if you think you’re protecting yourself by carrying one of these weapons, you’re far more likely to be attacked or stabbed yourself – or else find yourself facing a serious criminal charge.
“There’s no good reason, no sensible purpose and absolutely no justification for arming yourself with a knife – particularly of the variety covered by this new legislation.
“I would continue to reassure the wider community in Essex that you are very unlikely to fall victim to knife-related crime in our county.
“Knife crime is down in Essex, but that doesn’t mean we’re complacent and we know one incident is too many.
“We’re continuing to utilise targeted operations, seizing weapons from offenders and putting them before the courts.
“We’re also working more closely than ever with partners in education and health, as the figures are telling us almost half of all knife crime suspects are aged between 10 and 19 in Essex.
“We will continue to address the core issues and root causes behind knife crime, as when knife-enabled offending does occur, the consequences are so often disastrous.
“Although such incidents remain rare, we know and recognise the understandable public concern they cause.”
We recorded 1,565 incidents of knife-enabled crime in Essex in the 12 months to date, a 5% decrease on pre-Covid levels.
It is hoped the new legislation will broaden and strengthen the classification of ‘zombie’ knives and machetes, helping our officers to identify and seize more of these weapons and take them out of circulation.
The fresh powers will also assist us in pursuing prosecutions against those who possess such weapons, even in private properties.
Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington added:
“Knife crime may be falling in Essex, but you will see no complacency from me or my teams.
“Every person hurt or life lost is a tragedy and we’ve seen as recently as last month the disorder that can be caused by the use and possession of weapons, which now fall under this fresh legislation.
“I welcome any measures which will streamline our ability and give us greater powers to drive down knife crime and take these weapons off our streets.”
Jane Gardner, Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said:
"The PFCC Essex long lobbied for tighter laws to get these dangerous knives off our streets, especially so called 'zombie knives', and we were pleased when a new law was introduced making these knives illegal.
"Make no mistake, we will continue our unceasing efforts to stop all knife crime and knife death in Essex.
"We strongly urge people to hand in these dreadful weapons, which cause so much pain and suffering to victims and families, before the new law comes into force on Tuesday 24 September.
"Each knife and machete handed over is a strong, firm step toward creating safe and secure communities in Essex."
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Thursday 22 August 10:30am to 11:30am
Zest Cafe , University of Essex
Saturday 31 August 10am to 3pm
Community Day, New Town Recreation Ground
Monday 2 September 10am to 11am
Kingsland Church, 86 London Road
Wednesday 11 September 10am to 11am
Wimpole Road Church, 49 Wimpole Road, CO1 2DN
Wednesday 11 September 10am to 11am
Kingsland Church, 86 London Road
Don't let thieves get an easy ride. Follow these simple rules to protect your vehicle from thieves.
1. Lock your vehicle
Locking your vehicle, even when filling up or parked on your drive, greatly reduces the possibility of it being targeted by an opportunist thief. Even if you have locked your vehicle, check you haven’t left any windows or the sunroof open.
It is actually illegal to leave your vehicle running unattended while you de-ice it or warm it up in cold weather. If someone takes it while it’s left like this, your insurer won’t pay out because you won’t be covered.
If your vehicle has wing mirrors that fold in automatically when locked, make sure you lock it properly. Criminal gangs are looking for vehicles like these where the wing mirrors are still out because it is clear to them that the vehicle has been left unlocked.
2. Keep the keys safe
Vehicles today are by and large more difficult to steal than ever, unless the thief can access your key or fob to clone them. Keep your keys safe, out of view when at home, and away from your front door. It’s not uncommon for car keys to be stolen from inside your home by thieves fishing for them with a stick and hook through the letterbox.
If you're selling your car and you meet up with a potential buyer, do not allow the keys out of your sight. Your keys may be cloned by thieves and used later to steal your vehicle.
Keyless entry
Cars with keyless entry unlock automatically when the key comes within a short distance of the car. This can be from inside a pocket or bag. If you have to push a button on your car key to open your car, you don't have keyless entry.
Keyless car theft or 'relay theft' is when a device is used to fool the car into thinking the key is close by. This unlocks the car and starts the ignition.
Thieves only need to be within a few metres of your car key to capture the signal, even if it’s inside your home. This means that even if your car and home are secure, thieves can still unlock, start and steal your car.
How to protect your keyless entry car
- When at home keep your car key (and the spare) well away from the car.
- Put the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag and check if the bag or pouch is still working every few months.
- Reprogramme your keys if you buy a second hand car.
- Turn off wireless signals on your fob when it's not being used.
Additional physical security such as locks and immobilisers are still highly recommended. Section six on this page has more information about this.
3. Be aware of carjackers
The fact that you’re in the car isn’t always a deterrent to someone trying to steal it.
In traffic, drive with the doors locked and when queuing leave enough space in front of your vehicle to enable you to get out of a tight spot. If your vehicle is bumped from behind, wait to pull over – somewhere safe and preferably where there are people. After all, you don’t know the person who has collided with you; they could well be hijackers. If you’re at all suspicious, consider calling the police.
If someone threatens you, it’s better to hand over the keys to the vehicle than become a victim of assault. Then call 999 as soon as possible, and ask for the police.
If your car is stolen, some modern vehicle alarm and tracker systems have the facility to isolate or shut down fuel systems, bringing the vehicle to a halt and leaving the thief high and dry.
4. Park responsibly
It’s always advisable to avoid parking in dark and secluded areas. It’s worth an extra five or ten-minute walk if it means your vehicle is left in a well-lit and busier street.
And if possible, always try to park in illuminated and staffed car parks or those with a Park Mark safer parking award. To find one, simply check out Park Mark.
5. Watch for illegal tow trucks
Thieves often attempt to lift vehicles from the street, literally. So, if you see a towaway crew acting suspiciously – especially if their vehicle isn’t branded or if they’re not in uniform – then please report it immediately.
As with every report of suspicious behaviour made in good faith, we’ll never blame anyone for calling us if it proves unfounded.
Car parks with height-restricted entrances help prevent illegal tow trucks and removal vehicles. And fitting a Thatcham rated category 1 or 2 alarm system with tracking, immobilisation, anti-grab and movement sensors can help protect and trace your vehicle.
6. Fit good in-car security locks
Additional physical security can help to prevent your vehicle being driven away even if a thief gains entry. There are a range of security rated products tested by Sold Secure that can help, such as steering wheel locks, pedal boxes and gear stick locks.
Some of these products, tested to Sold Secure Diamond, can even resist a small hand-held angle grinder.
It's also worth speaking to your vehicle dealership about installing an aftermarket immobiliser approved by the manufacturer.
Immobilisers prevent a vehicle from starting unless the correct fob, key or activation process is used. They can be personalised so that you're the only one who knows how to unset it via a number of dashboard controls.
7. Double-check electronic locking
Electronic devices can be used to jam the electronic signal from your key fob to lock your vehicle. Always manually check your vehicle has locked before walking away.
If unsure, lock it manually, then scan the immediate area for anyone hanging around. If a potential thief who’s watching feels they’ve been spotted, they’ll probably move off.
8. Before owning, check for cloning
Changing the identity of a vehicle, known as vehicle cloning, can be as simple as adding stolen number plates. When buying a vehicle, always check the DVLA V5 document and make sure the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the vehicle is the same as on the document.
Make sure you check more than one of the VINs as well as the engine numbers on the vehicle (see diagram).
Check a used vehicle you’re buying.
9. Secure your port
Many modern vehicles are fitted with engine management diagnostic ports, which can unlock and start your vehicle.
If your vehicle has this type of port, consider fitting a lockable cover.
Be fraud smart
Personal fraud and how to prevent it
Fraud is when a person lies to you, or ‘scams’ you, to gain an advantage, such as taking your money or learning private information about you. This could be via email, text, phone or in person, either on the street or on your doorstep.
Some adults may be especially vulnerable to fraud and financial abuse. If you’re concerned about someone you know, contact your local social services and ask for Adult Social Care.
With a little knowledge you can protect yourself from fraudsters too:
For more information and help and to report fraud, go to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre.
Ten golden rules to prevent fraud
Remember these ten golden rules to help you prevent fraud and beat the scammers.
- Be suspicious of all ‘too good to be true’ offers and deals. There are no guaranteed get-rich-quick schemes.
- Don’t agree to offers or deals immediately. Insist on time to get independent or legal advice before making a decision.
- Don’t hand over money or sign anything until you’ve checked someone’s credentials and their company’s.
- Never send money to anyone you don’t know or trust, whether in the UK or abroad, or use methods of payment you’re not comfortable with.
- Never give banking or personal details to anyone you don’t know or trust. This information is valuable so make sure you protect it.
- Always log on to a website directly rather than clicking on links in an email.
- Don’t just rely on glowing testimonials. Find solid, independent evidence of a company’s success.
- Always get independent or legal advice if an offer involves money, time or commitment.
- If you spot a scam or have been scammed, report it and get help.
- Don’t be embarrassed about reporting a scam. Because the scammers are cunning and clever there’s no shame in being deceived. By reporting it, you'll make it more difficult for them to deceive others.
 What does a green P plate on a car mean?
A green P plate on a vehicle means that the person driving has only recently passed their test. Extra consideration should be given to cars displaying a P plate.
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