News 2 June to 8 June
 "Courage and duty of D-Day are values at heart of policing"
That’s from our Chief Constable as colleagues from the armed forces joined him to mark the 81st anniversary of D-Day and watch 33 new officers take their oaths.
Major Stephan D’Abreu-Hayling from Sandhurst joined the Chief, other guests, and the new officers’ friends and family on Friday.
Two off-duty police officers from Southend bravely challenged two armed burglars in Rochford in the early hours of the morning.
Despite being threatened with a crowbar, our officers managed to detain the pair while also summoning on-duty colleagues to assist.
And now Sergeant Alex Farr and Constable Sam Hilbery have been commended by Essex Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington for their exceptional bravery.
 A12: Driver detected travelling at 140mph
“I’m horrified to see drivers reaching twice the legal speed limit on our roads. It’s totally unacceptable and is putting road users, as well as themselves at risk of serious injury or death.”
This comes from our head of roads policing, Adam Pipe, after one of his officers detected 180 offences in just over an hour on Friday 6 June.
While conducting speed checks on the A12 between Chelmsford and Witham the roads policing officer detected a number of motorists travelling at more than 100mph.
One was driving at 140mph, another at 121mph and a third at 110mph.
These offenders will be receiving a court summons.
 Celebrating Dedication: Special Constabulary Annual Awards Ceremony
A powerful night of recognition celebrating the courage, commitment, and impact of Essex’s volunteer police force.
 Thirty-three new officers ready to serve our neighbourhoods
Thirty-three new officers are ready to protect and serve our neighbourhoods across Essex after taking their oaths.
They passed out at a ceremony at Essex Police Headquarters in front of their friends and family.
Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington led the ceremony and was joined by the Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst, the Lord Lieutenant for Essex Jennifer Tolhurst, the High Sheriff for Essex Julie Fosh, Major Stephan D’Abreu-Hayling from Sandhurst and Chief Fire Officer Rick Hylton.
The ceremony takes place a week after the force launched its Neighbourhood Policing Teams, which will see 74 new officer roles added across the county, and will tackle the issues that matter to you.
"This incident could have had devastating consequences."
A man was sentenced after he admitted driving a lorry while under the influence of alcohol on the M25.
"This incident could have had devastating consequences. This man got behind the wheel of a lorry and then drove on the busy motorway, putting lives at risk.
"Our officers responded quickly, ensuring no-one was hurt and this was thanks to motorists who were aware of the danger he posed and called us."
 Officers scale garden fence to catch prolific thief
Colchester thief jailed after stealing from Co-op and Asda 11 times, breaching court order. Caught after foot chase.
“It’s a little less glamorous and executed with a little less flair than you see in films like Hot Fuzz…
“But we won’t let gates or garden fences get in the way of catching criminals.”
So says Sergeant Dean Young, from Colchester Local Policing Team, after his officers kicked open a locked gate and scaled garden fences to chase down a prolific thief.
 Neighbourhood policing team secure burglary charge
Clacton's strengthened Neighbourhood Policing Team secured charges for burglary and theft after a break-in at a shop.
In the early hours of 24 April, we were alerted to reports of a burglary at Boots, in Pier Avenue. The alarm was activated and staff responded, finding a small hole had been forced through a window at the front of the store. A security radio was taken from inside. An investigation was launched and crime scene investigators attended, securing forensic evidence.
 Fourteen drink and drug drive arrests in two days
We arrested more than a dozen suspected drink and drug drivers last weekend, as officers cracked down on dangerous driving on our road network.
Our Roads Policing Unit were making sure no one on the road is unfit to drive and everyone is behaving safely.
On Saturday alone, the team arrested 14 drivers on suspicion of driving while unfit through drink or drugs across the county.
Over the whole weekend, the team seized 21 cars from drivers without insurance, and issued 190 Traffic Offence Reports for a range of offences including driving while using a mobile phone, driving without a seatbelt, and speeding.
 Five arrested for drug conspiracy among 32 in one weekend
Four people have been arrested on suspicion of drug supply offences, as officers kept the county safe this weekend.
Our Operational Support Group made four arrests in Clacton early on last Sunday morning, discovering a large volume of suspected Class A and Class B drugs in the process.
While responding to a separate incident, officers discovered the drugs in an address and five people were identified and arrested.
 National Volunteer Week: 2-8 June
Last week, we celebrated and thanked our wonderful volunteers who give up so much of their time to supporting policing in our communities across Essex.
 Neighbourhood policing officer chases down graffiti vandal
Saffron Walden’s dedicated bobby on the beat, PC Ryan McNamara, proved age is just a number when he chased down a teenage vandal.
The officer, part of our recently strengthened Neighbourhood Policing Team, caught the 17-year-old offender in the act while on patrol in the town last month.
Responding to reports of anti-social behaviour at a car park in Elm Grove, he discovered the teen spraying graffiti on the wall.
A short foot chase followed, but the culprit stood little chance of escaping.
He was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
 Witham: Child sex offender jailed for 10 years
Chace Wiseman, 18, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court to a 16-and-a-half-year extended sentence,10 and a half years in custody and six years on extended licence, after pleading guilty to 12 child sexual offences. The investigation began on New Year’s Eve 2024 when we received a referral from the National Crime Agency. Specialist officers from the Police Online Investigation Team swiftly identified Wiseman through digital evidence linking him to indecent images and videos of child abuse.
Following his arrest on 3 January, officers seized seven electronic devices from his Witham home, uncovering a large cache of disturbing material. Despite remaining silent during interviews, the overwhelming evidence led to charges including rape of a child under 13, sexual assault, and possession of indecent and extreme images. Wiseman is now on the sex offenders register and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a Restraining Order.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 9 June
10am to 11am
McDonalds, Hartley Brook Road, Clacton.
11am to 12pm
McDonalds Canvey, Northwick Retail Park, Northwick Road, Canvey Island
Tuesday 10 June
10am to 11am
Bianca's coffee shop, High Street, Walton on the Naze.
10am to 11am
Asda Supermarket, Bull Hill Road, Clacton
10:30am to 12pm
All Saints Church Writtle, Church Lane, Chelmsford
12pm to 1pm
McDonalds Hadleigh, 124 High Street, Hadleigh, Benfleet
2pm to 3pm
Costa Coffee, T Grove Brook Park West, Clacton
3pm to 4:30pm
Witham Town Hall, Heritage Suite, Witham
Wednesday 11 June
10am to 11am
Community Shop, Lower Road, Little Hallingbury
1pm to 2pm
Post Office, High Street, Hatfield Broad Oak
3pm to 4pm
Costa Coffee, Clacton Common Factory Shopping Village, Stephenson Road W, Clacton.
7:30pm to 8:30pm
Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend
Thursday 12 June
10am to 11am
Costa Coffee, Waterglade Retail Park, Next, Unit 3, Old Road, Clacton.
10am to 12pm
Touchpoint, 72 Chapel Hill, Stansted
11am to 12pm
Fyfield Village Hall, Houchin Drive, Ongar
11am to 12pm
The Snug, High Easter
12pm to 4pm
Robert Drake school, Church Road, Benfleet
2pm to 3pm
Mens Shed, Blatches Barn, Church Lane, Little Canfield
5pm to 6pm
Benfleet Railway Station, Ferry Road, Benfleet
Friday 13 June
10am to 12pm
Walton Food bank, Standley Road, Walton on the Naze.
10am to 11am
Tea on the Heath, Pond Lane, Hatfield Heath
10am to 11am
Ali's BBQ House , 10 The Parade Queen Elizabeth Way, CO2 8LY
10am to 11am
Tesco Stores Ltd, Princes Road, Chelmsford
2:45pm to 3:45pm
Village Store, Stebbing
5pm to 6pm
Sainsburys Rayleigh Weir - 21 Stadium Way, Benfleet
Saturday 14 June
10am to 2pm
Westleigh School, Ronald Hill Grove, Leigh
10:30am to 11:30am
Manningtree Market, South Street, Manningtree.
11am to 4pm
First site , Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester CO1 1JH
3pm to 4pm
The Martello Lounge, The Promenade, Clacton
Sunday 15 June
8am to 4pm
Langham hall estate
11am to 12pm
B&M, Gateway Retail, Harwich.
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
 Crime prevention advice
Protect your valuables
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 approved domestic safe in your home to improve security and protect these valuables.
Be fraud smart
Fraud toolkit - everything you need to know all in one place
Major high street retailers have recently experienced cyber-attacks, be extra cautious with emails or messages claiming to be from these stores.
Fraudsters often use current news stories to lure you in, impersonating trusted brands to carry out phishing scams aimed at stealing your personal information.
For information and support, we’ve launched our online fraud toolkit - everything you need, all in one place.
 Join our team
Police staff jobs
Chief Finance Officer £99,087
CCTV Evidence Officer £32,244
Senior Network Engineer £40,170
Finance Business Partner £56,073
Security Systems Administrator £24,219
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) £26,106
Detention Officers £29,109
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
 This week we remember
William Henry Heap
William Henry Heap served with Essex County Constabulary from December 21, 1937. Prior to that he served in the Welsh Guards from 11 January 1934 to 4 December 1937. He was commended by the Chief Constable for 'the diligent manner in which he pursued his enquiries in connection with a series of cases of breaking and entering'. On 1 December 1939 William was recalled to his former regiment. He was killed in action on Saturday 10 June 1944.
Harold Greenhaigh
Harold Greenhaigh served with Essex County Constabulary from April 26 1937. Prior to this he joined the Territorial Army on 4 January 1932, and progressed to the regulars on 4 April 1933 where he remained for exactly four years. Harold married on 25 November 1939, prior to his recall to the army six days later. He contracted a rare blood disease and as a result was discharged from the army having attained the rank of Sergeant in the Grenadier Guards. He succumbed to the disease at Black Notley Hospital on 12 June 1943.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
 Obituaries
Ivor Williams
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Ivor Williams who retired as a Chief Inspector in 1984 and served with the Metropolitan Police Force, Barrow in Furness Police Force, transferred to Essex where he served at Harlow, Chelmsford, College, Basildon and Grays. He passed away on 25 May 2025 aged 87 years.
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