News 4 December to 10 December
 Road Safety
Over this past week we have seen a variety of weather, which has seen water levels rise. Our officers were called when this vehicle attempted to cross a ford which usually is no problem for their vehicle however they found due to the amount of rain the water had risen. Fortunately nobody was injured in this incident however it serves as a reminder to drive safely and take note of the roads and routes you take in adverse weather conditions.
On the topic of road safety, throughout December, Essex’s Roads Policing Unit officers will be conducting policing activities as part of a national crackdown on drink driving in which there will be zero tolerance in Essex.
As part of the month-long road safety campaign, we’ll be targeting those who drive under the influence of drink, to take drunk drivers off our roads and keep everyone safe. The same will be true of drug drivers. You can read more by clicking the link.
Celebrating Our Volunteers for International Volunteers Day
International Volunteers Day is a special occasion to honour the incredible individuals who selflessly dedicate their time and energy to making a positive impact in our community. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our force, and their unwavering commitment deserves to be celebrated.
Volunteerism is more than just an act of kindness; it's a powerful force that brings people together to create meaningful change. Our volunteers come from different backgrounds, each bringing unique skills and perspectives and stories. Whether they are mentoring youth, organising community events, or providing support to those in need, their contributions are invaluable.
You can read more about our volunteers and opportunities to volunteer by reading more.
 “My dad left home when I was 18 months old. Now I mentor boys without a father figure"
Sergeant Jamie Edwards grew up in a single-parent home after his dad left the family. Now a parent himself, Jamie volunteers to work with boys who have little or no contact with their fathers.
Jamie, who is part of our mental health partnership team, is a reading mentor with Lads Need Dads – an award-winning, community interest company whose programmes aim to help boys to reach their full potential, and support mothers and carers raising boys alone.
Reading mentors lead one-on-one sessions with boys during school time, sharing books and encouraging them to embrace reading, while developing emotional and communication skills.
The scheme has been widely praised by mums, teachers, and the boys themselves.
Jamie’s positive impact led to him winning the Millard Trophy for outstanding community work at the Essex Police Awards.
Read more by clicking the read more button.
Facial recognition van
In the run up to Christmas you’ll continue to see us in your communities ensuring you can do a bit of last minute shopping or enjoy a festive night out safely.
As part of this we are continuing to deploy our Live Facial Recognition vans to target violent offenders and those wanted for theft and shoplifting offences.
The vans will be in Colchester on Friday 13 December and Friday 20 December.
If you’re in the area when the vans are and want to find out more about how they work, please come and say hi!
There’s more information about Live Facial Recognition on our website which you can read by clicking the read more button.
 Crime prevention advice
Protect yourself from ATM theft
It’s a good idea to scan the area around ATMs before you use them. Be aware of anyone standing close by and always check the machine to see if it’s been tampered with before you use it.
Tell-tale signs of ATM fraud
Things to look out for are devices attached to the machine – some are more obvious than others. If you do see something suspicious contact the police and the bank.
Remember, if it doesn’t look or feel right then steer clear and, if possible, go inside the bank where it will be safer. And always keep a regular check on your transactions.
Be alert
We know it’s not always easy, but try to be aware of anyone near you when you’re at an ATM. Being aware of your surroundings and not being distracted makes it harder for people to take advantage and less likely that they’ll try to.
Thieves will watch as you key in your PIN or distract you while you’re withdrawing cash. Be vigilant. Cover your PIN and keep an eye on your card at all times. If someone taps you on the shoulder or tries to speak to you, just ignore them.
When you've left the ATM, put your card away immediately.
You should also be careful with contactless cards. You can get a card holder to prevent your card details being inadvertently read.
Be fraud smart
Some phone companies provide national numbers and premium rate numbers, such as 0800 or 0845, to businesses or individuals, who often don’t need to provide ID to get them.
Scammers often use these numbers. They’ll divert them to unregistered pay-as-you-go mobile numbers or to a separate answering service, making them difficult to trace.
Because of this, don’t rely on the appearance of a phone number to tell you what sort it is.
For example, 0208 is usually a London number and 07952 a UK mobile number. But scammers buy these numbers to trick you into believing the business is legitimately based somewhere that it really isn’t.
Scammers also use software to have any number they wish to appear on your phone’s caller ID screen. This method, known as ‘spoofing’, means they can appear to be calling from a legitimate number linked to a person or company, when in fact they aren’t.
Always be wary of the identity of a person you don’t know when speaking to them on the phone. If a scammer gives out a phone number, that number can’t always be traced and the user identified.
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