News 31 March to 6 April
 M11: Two arrested and motorbikes seized
Officers keeping you safe on our roads have arrested two people and seized four motorbikes following reports of dangerous riding on the M11.
We received a call shortly before 3.40pm on Saturday 5 April about a group of around a dozen motorbikes travelling southbound between Newport and Stansted Airport.
It was reported the bikes were being ridden dangerously and at speed. Specialist officers intercepted the vehicles as they headed into the Birchanger Services. Two people were arrested.
 Man arrested during drugs warrant
A man has been arrested following a drugs warrant in Rochford.
Officers carried out the warrant at an address in Southend Road shortly before 6.30am on Friday 4 April. It was part of an investigation into the supply of Class A drugs. During the operation officers discovered a quantity of drugs as well as large amounts of cash.
A 40 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, possession of Class B or C drugs, and acquiring, using, or possessing criminal property. He was taken into custody for questioning and has since been released on bail until 3 July.
 Lorry seized and fines issued during anti-fly-tipping operation
Our rural engagement officers have carried out one of their regular operations to tackle fly-tipping and the illegal transport of waste.
They patrolled with environmental and waste teams from local councils on 4 April 2025, stopping and checking vehicles carrying waste to ensure that they had the correct insurance and licences in place.
In Epping Forest District, they set up a static stop and pulled over 54 lorries and vans to check their loads and documentation. Epping Forest District Council is now initiating proceedings against nine people found to be carrying waste without a waste carrier’s licence.
Another 32 vehicles were stopped and checked by officers and council staff patrolling the Basildon, Brentwood, Chelmsford and Tendring districts.
 Economic crime officers prove £207k fraud by finance manager
A children’s nursery finance manager has been jailed for more than two years after economic crime investigators were able to uncover the vast scale of a fraud.
Kerry McGavigan worked for The Enchanted Wood Nursery, which is based in Benfleet, for seven years.
She had sole responsibility for the nursery’s accounts and raised numerous false invoices for work which was either never carried out or was carried out but for a fraction of the bill. All of the money associated with those fake invoices was paid into her own accounts.
She also spent about £20,000 using the company credit card incorrectly.
In total, we were able to show that she benefitted from £207,000 in fraudulent payments.
 Women thank Essex Police after man who shared deep fake images is jailed
"Essex Police’s kindness and patience really helped me through this difficult time. "The officer was so understanding and non-judgemental. He made me realise I had done nothing wrong."
Those are the words of one victim after an Essex man who created deep fake nude images of 13 women and shared them without their knowledge or consent was jailed for five years when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court for sentencing.
As well as editing and sharing the digitally manipulated images, 26-year-old Brandon Tyler posted intimate images of two further women - again without their permission.
In total, 20 women in the county were horrified to discover images and posts with abhorrent and derogatory language had been uploaded online.
And three of the women spoke out about the impact these crimes have had on them in their personal and professional lives and thanked our officers for their support and understanding.
 Three arrests as eight stolen vehicles recovered
Acting on information that a stolen car was close to Pilgrims Lane in North Stifford, our Road Crime Team arrived to carry out a search of the area, on Wednesday 2 April.
When they arrived, officers located eight cars in a garden, all suspected to be stolen, including a Kia, the vehicle which had initially be reported as stolen. In total, they found five cars, one van and two motorbikes. When officers searched the property, they also found a stun gun.
Three people were arrested at the property.
A 37-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of theft of vehicles and handling stolen goods: both remain in custody.
A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft of vehicles, handling stolen goods and a firearm offence (possession of a stun gun). He has been released on bail whilst our enquiries continue.
 Adeline Stuart-Watt
Rider jailed for 14 years following fatal collision
Christopher Allen, a motorcycle rider from Waltham Abbey, has been jailed for 14 years following a fatal collision in Loughton. The incident occurred in April 2023 when Allen, who had consumed alcohol, was speeding along Epping New Road and struck Adeline Stuart-Watt as she crossed the road. Despite paramedics' efforts, she sadly died at the scene.
Allen was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after a five-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. In addition to his prison sentence, he has been disqualified from driving for 19 years.
Detective Constable Jacqueline Dean expressed her condolences to the victim's family, who have shown great dignity throughout the trial.
 Pair jailed for stealing cars
Two men from Southend have been jailed for a total of nearly five years following an investigation into car thefts in South Essex. Billy Weighman, 28, and Andrew Calnan, 23, were sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on March 26th.
The investigation focused on four car thefts in May 2024, including three Ford Kugas stolen from Leigh-on-Sea, Southend, and Shoeburyness, and a Toyota Avensis stolen from Southend.
Weighman was convicted of two counts of vehicle theft and possession of cannabis, receiving a 28-month sentence. Calnan was jailed for 28 months for the theft of all three Kugas and was disqualified from driving for three years and two months.
 Six gang members jailed for gun offences
Six members of the South London WoolyO gang have been jailed for a total of 41-and-a-half years.
The gang members, aged between 18 and 28, were sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on March 28th.
They were convicted of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life or cause fear of violence. The investigation, which began in October 2023, was a collaborative effort between Essex Police's Serious and Organised Crime Unit and the Metropolitan Police. The gang was involved in a long-running feud with another London gang, which included social media posts, videos, and drill music.
Key incidents included a robbery in Aveley, Essex, where three men were robbed of £4,000 cash, and two shootings in London.
The gang members were found guilty after an 8-week trial, with sentences ranging from 4 to 15 years.
 Knife seized and arrest following pursuit
We recently dealt with an incident in Colchester where a knife was seized following a pursuit.
On March 31, officers from our Roads Policing Unit engaged in a pursuit with an Audi TT that failed to stop. The car reached speeds of up to 70mph in 30mph and 40mph zones, ignoring multiple red lights.
The pursuit ended when the vehicle became bogged down in farmland in Boxted. Officers waded through knee-deep mud to detain the driver and recovered a knife.
The suspect, a man in his 30s from Walton, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop, drug driving, and possession of a knife in a public place.
 Work to prevent livestock worrying continues
Livestock worrying involves dogs harassing or attacking farm animals, causing stress, injuries, and sometimes even death.
These incidents can lead to significant emotional and financial impacts for farmers, including vet bills and the cost of repairing damage caused by panicked animals.
Pregnant ewes are particularly vulnerable, as the stress can cause miscarriages, and lambs can become separated from their mothers, leading to hypothermia or starvation
The Rural Engagement Team at Essex Police is working to prevent and deter such crimes by increasing awareness among dog owners and conducting patrols in areas where attacks have been reported.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 7 April
10am to 11am
Morrisons Supermarket, Centenary Way, Little Clacton
11am to 12pm
Miracle House, Silver Island Way, Wickford, SS12 9NR
11am to 12pm
The Council Offices, Victoria Place, Brightlingsea
11am to 12:30pm
Natwest, 279, 281 High Street, Epping
11am to 12pm
Havens Hub, Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff
12pm to 1pm
Knightswick centre - Furtherwick Road Canvey Island
Tuesday 8 April
10am to 11am
Norman Court, Coltsfield, Stansted
10am to 11am
McDonalds, Hartley Brook Road, Clacton
10:30am to 11:30am
The Megacentre Rayleigh, 7 Brook Road, Rayleigh SS6 7UT
11am to 12pm
Towngate Theatre St. Martins Square, Basildon
12pm to 1pm
McDonalds Hadleigh, 124 High Street, Hadleigh, Benfleet
12pm to 2pm
Asda, Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh SS6 9RN
3pm to 4pm
East Tilbury Hub, Princess Avenue, East Tilbury
Wednesday 9 April
9am to 9:30am
Sewards End Community Centre, Radwinter Road, Sewards End
10am to 10:30am
Nisa, Stortford Road, Clavering
10:30am to 11:30am
Chelmsford Library Chelmsford County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford
11am to 12pm
Waterside Farm Leisure Centre - Somnes Avenue, Canvey Island
11:30am to 12pm
Community Centre, Royston Road, Wendens Ambo
2pm to 2:30pm
Community Centre, St Margaret's Church, Wicken Bonhunt
3:30pm to 4:30pm
Costa Coffee, Clacton Common Factory Shopping Village, Stephenson Road W, Clacton
3:30pm to 4pm
Village Hall, Arkesden, Saffron Walden
Thursday 10 April
11am to 12pm
Wood Cottage Tea Room, Felsted
1pm to 2pm
Takeley Park, Takeley
2pm to 3pm
Costa Coffee, T Grove Brook Park West, Clacton
4:30pm to 5:30pm
Runnymede Leisure Centre, Kiln Road, Benfleet
Friday 11 April
7am to 9am
Hockley Train Station, Station Road, Hockley Essex SS6 7HJ
9am to 10am
Flitch Green Coffee Wagon, Tanton Road
10am to 12pm
Co-op Food, 45 Spa Road, Hockley SS5 4BE
10am to 12pm
Walton Food Bank, with Peabody, Standley Road, Walton on Naze
10am to 11am
Poundland, 43-45 Pier Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea
10:30am to 11:30am
Ashfields, Great Canfield
11am to 12pm
Willingale Village Hall, The Street, Ongar
11:30am to 12:30pm
Takeley Old School Hub, Takeley
4:30pm to 5:30pm
Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Somnes Avenue, Canvey Island
Saturday 12 April
10am to 3pm
Parlour Cafe, Creeksea Place, Farm Ferry Road, Burnham-on-Crouch
10am to 12pm
Roydon Village Market, Roydon Village Hall, Harlow Road, Roydon
10am to 11am
Manningtree Market, Marketplace, Manningtree
12:30pm to 2pm
Secret garden tea room, 93 High Street, Rayleigh SS6 7EJ
1pm to 2pm
Oxygen Rayleigh, 26a Brook Road, Rayleigh SS6 7XL
3pm to 4pm
Costa Coffee, Waterglade Retail Park, Next, Unit 3, Old Road, Clacton
6pm to 7pm
Great Dunmow Co-op, White Street
Sunday 13 April
10am to 11am
Vange Riverview Centre, Vange, Basildon
10:30am to 11:30am
Basin Road, Heybridge Basin, Heybridge, Essex
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
 Crime prevention advice
Lock it down!
Your home is only as secure as its weakest point of entry.
That’s why it’s so important to have doors and windows that are as secure as possible making it significantly harder for intruders to break in.
Don't give burglars an easy way in—secure your home.
Be fraud smart
Stay vigilant and shop smart
With so many offers, deals, and bargains popping up online, it can be tricky to tell the real sites from the fake ones. Here are some of our top tips to help you stay safe:
- Scroll a Little: If you see an ad and aren't sure if the site is legit, don't click the link. Instead, do a quick search and read through the results. Make sure to scroll past the first few entries, as these are often paid ads.
- Use Secure Payment Methods: When making a purchase, use a credit card or a secure payment method. These often come with additional protection.
- Report Fraud: If you think you've been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it as a crime.
 Join our team
Police staff jobs
Vehicle Technician £38,754
Head of Intelligence Analysis £61,302
Finance Business Partner £56,073
Sexual Abuse Partnership Co-Ordinator £43,920
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
 This week we remember
 Edmund Sleigh Frost
Police Sergeant Edmund Frost lived and worked in Halstead before being posted to the opposite end of the county when he joined the force on 1 March 1929. He worked at various stations in the Romford division before being promoted to sergeant, returning briefly to the rural end of Essex before being posted back to Romford at the start of the Second World War.
Edmund Frost was commended by the Chief Constable for consistent good work in air raids on Romford. In August 1946 Edmund Frost had a long period of sick leave after being kicked by a deserter. He returned to work and was posted to Harlow, but succumbed to a fatal disease which was directly related to the injury on duty he had received. He died on 8 April 1948.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
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