News 17 February to 23 February
 PC Sam Sarfas
How the police helicopter helps us to keep you safe
The National Police Air Service assists our officers on the ground to help people, keep you safe and catch criminals.
One of the service’s helicopters is based at North Weald.
It’s called out when our officers need air support to search for missing people, track stolen vehicles during a police pursuit or track suspects, such as hare coursers.
The flight crew also provides overhead observation at major incidents, which gives vital situational awareness to operational commanders at the scene.
Colchester: Two arrests by armed officers after robbery
Two 18-year-old men have been arrested after a robbery in Colchester when armed officers were able to track them on a train leaving the city.
We were alerted to a teenage boy being threatened with a weapon by two people in Castle Park, shortly after 6pm on Sunday 23 February.
Thankfully, the boy was not hurt but he was forced to hand over an item of jewellery.
Two people of interest were then seen near to Colchester North train station. They then boarded a London-bound train.
A number of policing tactics were then put in place in conjunction with our colleagues in British Transport Police to ensure the safety of the train, whilst also maintaining a close watch on the pair.
As the train stopped in Shenfield, two arrests were made. When the pair were searched, officers also found items of jewellery and a large sum of cash – all of which we believe to be significant to our investigation.
 More than 100 arrests in one week in Essex
Officers made 101 arrests in seven days, targeting serious offenders and patrolling in our towns and cities.
Between February 10 to February 17, 931 officers were involved in proactive policing operations to keep our communities safe and locate those with outstanding warrants for their arrest.
In their combined 4,100 hours of work we took 56 weapons off our streets through 22 sweeps through public parks and spaces, as well as carrying out 85 stop and searches while patrolling.
We gathered more than 200 new pieces of intelligence that is helping us build investigations into other offences, and attended 82 meetings and events to speak to local residents about the issues that most affect them.
Among the arrests were offenders suspected of causing grievous bodily harm, sexual assault, child sex offences, being concerned in the supply of drugs, taking of motor vehicles, intentional strangulation and controlling and coercive behaviour.
 13 arrests thanks to tenacity of response officers
Work by response officers in Maldon has led to 13 people arrested and stolen property and vehicles recovered in just four days.
Between 15 and 18 February the Local Policing Team carried out proactive activity, including in their own time and refusing to go off duty to ensure the arrests were made and stolen property could be returned to its rightful owner.
One 15 February, one officer from the team managed to contain six hare coursing suspects in a field in Danbury to ensure they were contained while colleagues from the Rural Engagement Team and National Police Air Service responded.
At the time, the officer was due to go off-duty but their dedication to tackling crime led them to respond and ensure the suspects were detained and all six were arrested and a vulnerable animal was safeguarded.
 Stop search leads to discovery of £26,000 and 780g of Class A drugs
A man has been charged after a stop and search in Harlow led to the discovery of substantial amounts of cash and Class A drugs.
Officers from Harlow Local Policing Team were responding to an incident on Tuesday 11 February when they spotted a man acting suspiciously nearby and decided to search him.
During that search, they discovered £11,000 in cash, 200 grams of cocaine and two mobile phones.
He was immediately arrested and brought to Harlow police station while the job was passed to the team who investigate gang-related crime.
They quickly identified an address of interest and conducted a search where they found a further 580 grams of cocaine, £15,000 in cash, a zombie-style knife and equipment associated with the preparation and distribution of drugs.
It is estimated the drugs seized would have a street value in excess of £20,000.
 Basildon/Billericay/Ingatestone: 73 people caught speeding
More than 70 people were caught speeding in Basildon, Billericay, and Ingatestone by our team who work to keep you safe on the roads.
Our Road Crime Team carried out speed enforcement checks in the three areas on Tuesday 18 February and identified a total of 73 people exceeding the speed limit.
It included someone going 73mph in a 50mph zone on Broadmayne in Basildon and someone doing 51mph in a 30mph zone on Roman Road in Ingatestone.
The team also spoke to local residents who were concerned about speeding vehicles and the danger it poses to other road users.
 Ugley: Life sentence for killing mother and son
A 64-year-old man has been given a life sentence for murdering his wife and his step son in a violent attack in their family home.
Maria Nugara, 54, and her 29-year-old son Giuseppe Morreale – known as Joe – lived in Cambridge Road, Ugley and died on Tuesday 28 May after Calogero Ricotta stabbed them both to death.
Officers were at the scene within minutes where he was quickly arrested and later charged with two counts of murder and one count of causing actual bodily harm to a third victim who was present in the address at the time.
Ricotta’s trial began at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday 3 February. The jury of seven women and five men listened to three weeks of evidence before finding him guilty of all three charges.
He was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 34 years in prison.
 Chief Inspector Paul Ballard and council chief executive Doug Wilkinson (centre) alongside colleagues from the PFCC, council and community policing team.
Maldon: New Community Safety Hub launched
A new Community Safety Hub has officially opened following a joint initiative from Maldon District Council and Essex Police.
The hub, based at the council offices, marks a major enhancement in joint working between the two organisations, is expected to help provide a more integrated and effective response to the safety concerns of residents.
It will be the base for officers from Maldon Town Centre Team and the council’s community safety team, and is designed to foster closer collaboration, streamline communication, and facilitate a more coordinated approach to addressing community safety issues.
By working side by side, the teams will be better equipped to respond swiftly to emerging challenges and ensure that resources are deployed efficiently where they are needed most.
 Five arrested on suspicion of hare coursing
Five people have been arrested on suspicion of hare coursing in the Danbury area.
Our Rural Engagement Team and local officers, supported by our Dog Section and the National Police Air Service helicopter, were deployed after we received several reports of hare coursing in the afternoon of Saturday 15 January.
Two men, aged 68 and 33, and a 37-year-old woman, all from Basildon, a 19-year-old man from Wickford and a 28-year-old man from Birstall in Leicestershire were all arrested on suspicion of trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs.
They have all been released under investigation while our inquiries continue.
 Vote for Baloo as Crufts Hero Dog of the Year
Our Baloo is a finalist in Crufts Hero Dog of the Year!
While on duty in October 2018, the Belgian Milionis was hit by a car as she chased down a criminal who was trying to get away from police.
Her injuries were so bad that she needed metal plates screwed into both sides of her pelvis. Her front leg also needed amputating.
This sadly ended Baloo's career as a police dog.
But this hasn't stopped her from continuing to help people across Essex.
Find out about the impact she continues to have in the video … and you can also vote for her too!
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 24 February
10am to 11am
Henham Community Shop, High Street, Henham
10am to 12pm
Joining Essex County Fire & Rescue Service, The Ship Community Pub, Rectory Road, Great Holland, Frinton on Sea
11am to 12pm
The Coffee Post, 50 The Street, High Ongar
11am to 12pm
Home Bargains Airport Retail Park, Rochford Road, Rochford, SS2 6FW
1pm to 2pm
Curzon Cinema, Queen Street, Colchester
4pm to 5pm
Sainsburys Rayleigh Weir - 21 Stadium Way, Benfleet
5pm to 6pm
Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Westcliff
7:30pm to 8:30pm
Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend
Tuesday 25 February
7am to 9am
Rochford Train Station, West Street, Rochford SS4 1AU
10am to 11am
Priors Hall Farm, Lindsell
10am to 11am
Hatfield Broad Oak Village Hall (Outside), Cage End, Hatfield Broad Oak
10:30am to 11:30am
Rochford Banking hub, West Street, Rochford SS4 1AJ
11am to 12pm
First site, Lewis Gardens, Colchester
11am to 12pm
Outside M&S, 62 High Street, Chelmsford
11am to 12pm
Spacious Place Cafe, Thurrock Christian fellowship, 2-4 Chase Road
11am to 12pm
Canfield Coffee Pot, Little Canfield
11:30am to 12pm
Tea on the Heath, Pond Lane, Hatfield Heath
2pm to 2:30pm
Great Hallingbury Village Hall, Church Road
2:45pm to 3:45pm
Stebbing Community Shop, High Street
3pm to 3:30pm
Little Hallingbury Village Hall, Lower Road
5pm to 6pm
Benfleet Rail station, Ferry Road, Benfleet
6pm to 7pm
Outside Layer Village Hall, New Cut, Colchester
Wednesday 26 February
10am to 2pm
Safe to go Stow Hub, 28 The Stow, Harlow, Essex
10am to 11am
Walden Place, Saffron Walden
10:30am to 12pm
Alresford start up cafe St Andrews Church, St Andrews Close, Alresford
11am to 12pm
The Cake O'clock Tea Room, 410 Rayleigh Road, Leigh on Sea
11am to 12pm
Stanford Le Hope Library, High Street
11am to 12:30pm
Waitrose, 27 Queen's Road, Buckhurst Hill
11am to 12pm
Woodside Park, Manor Road, Benfleet
11am to 12pm
Hadleigh Cycle Park - Chapel Lane, Hadleigh, Benfleet
Thursday 27 February
9:30am to 11am
CVST, Harwich Hub, 276 High Street, Dovercourt
10am to 11am
Saint Cuthbert's Catholic Church, Chapel Road, Burnham-on-Crouch
10am to 11am
Oasis cafe, Orsett Church Centre, High Road
10:30am to 11:30am
Zest cafe, University of Essex
3pm to 4pm
East Tilbury Hub, Princess Avenue, East Tilbury
Friday 28 February
10am to 11am
Wakey Wakey Cafe, London Road, Leigh
10am to 12pm
Co-op Food, 45 Spa Road, Hockley SS5 4BE
10am to 11am
Harwich Market, High Street, Dovercourt
11am to 12pm
IG9 Brunch & Cafe, 4 Lower Queen's Road, Buckhurst Hill
12pm to 1pm
IKEA Lakeside (Customer restaurant), Heron Way, Essex
2:30pm to 3:30pm
Eversley Leisure Centre, Crest Avenue, Basildon
3pm to 4pm
Morrisons Supermarket, Waterglade Retail Park, Old Road, Clacton on Sea
6pm to 7pm
RBL Club, Felsted
Saturday 1 March
11am to 12pm
Miracle House, Silver Island Way, Wickford, SS12 9NR
12pm to 1pm
McDonalds Hadleigh, 124 High Street, Hadleigh, Benfleet
Sunday 2 March
10am to 11am
Fingeringhoe Village Hall, Colchester
12pm to 1pm
Great Parndon Community Association, Abercrombie Way, Harlow
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
 Keep your belongings safe
Most burglars are opportunists, aiming to grab as many valuable items as possible in the shortest time.
They often target small, easily portable items that can be hidden in their pockets. Jewellery in bedrooms is a common target, often holding sentimental value and being irreplaceable.
Simply hiding these items in a drawer or wardrobe isn't enough, as these are usually the first spots burglars check.
Consider fitting a Secured by Design (SBD) approved domestic safe in your home to improve security and protect these valuables.
Be fraud smart
Criminals are once again targeting car parks in Essex with fake QR codes on payment signs, offering it as a method of payment. Fraudsters use QR codes that direct people to duplicate fake website to gain your details and take your money.
If you see a QR code on a sign, always check before scanning it. There should be a list of recommended payment methods so you can check that it is authentic.
Please share this message and help make others aware.
If you think you may have added your card details on a scam website, contact your bank immediately, block further payments and report it to Action Fraud.
 Join our team
Police staff jobs
Technical Capital Accountant £56,073
Forensic Collision Investigator £40,890
Vehicle Technician £38,754
Legal Executive £40,890
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
 This week we remember
 Sidney Leslie Dodd
Sidney Dodd joined Essex County Constabulary on September 1, 1949 and became a detached beat officer at Horndon-on-the-Hill. One of Sidney's particular concerns was road safety, and he often visited the local schools in his own time where the children affectionately called him 'Uncle Sid'. One Sunday evening on 24 February 1957, Sidney Dodd was cycling along the Stanford-le-Hope bypass when he was knocked down and killed by a drunk driver.
 John Frederick Shrimplin
John Shrimplin was passionate about motorcycles and soon after joining Essex Police, he transferred to the Traffic division and soon became a first class advanced Traffic motorcyclist. On 2 March 1970, John was patrolling on his motorcycle in Epping when he was struck and killed by a car which swerved into him from the opposite carriageway.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
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