News 18 June to 24 June
 Year 8 Police Football Tournament – A Huge Success! ⚽🏆
Last week, we had the privilege of hosting a fantastic two-day football tournament for Year 8 pupils from local secondary schools. Organised by Essex Police in collaboration with support professionals, the event aimed to engage young people who would benefit from positive interaction with the police and other community services.
With around 200 participants, the tournament was filled with energy, teamwork, and inspiration. One parent shared:
“My son attended the Year 8 police football tournament today and was inspired to join the police. He is autistic and struggles to muster enthusiasm; however, he seems to have really sparked an interest in this.”
Moments like these remind us why community engagement matters.
A massive thank you to our incredible partners who made this event possible:
Braintree District Council
The Salvation Army
The Children’s Society
Next Chapter
Tesco
Your support helped create a safe, inclusive, and inspiring environment for our young people. We’re proud of every student who took part and look forward to more events like this in the future
Seven men have been jailed for a total of 33 years and 8 months after using a lock-up in Braintree as part of a major vehicle theft and money laundering operation, uncovered by our Serious and Organised Crime Unit.
The gang, part of an organised crime group, stole high-value vehicles — including Land Rovers, Range Rovers, BMWs, Jaguars, and Toyota Hiluxes — from across London, Essex, and the UK.
Although not based in Braintree, they used a rented unit in the town to dismantle and strip the stolen vehicles. The parts were then loaded into vans or containers and sent across the UK and abroad. The total value of the stolen vehicles is estimated at over £2.8 million.
 Another uninsured vehicle off the road
Whilst patrolling the back roads between Thaxted and Boxted, PS Baskeyfield was shocked to find a car travelling toward him on the wrong side of the road around a blind bend. After some evasive action, he turned around and stopped the vehicle, the driver was found to be unlicensed and delivering food with the incorrect insurance. The driver reported for process and the vehicle seized.
542 uninsured vehicles were taken off Essex roads in May, if drivers choose to use our roads without insurance they will be caught!
 Op Makesafe - making things safer for our children
This week saw officers with the Braintree council's Children and Young People Safeguarding Officer, Lucy Wilson, visit local leisure and hospitality venues to increase safeguarding awareness among staff and help those working in the hospitality sector to identify potential victims of child exploitation and understand how to appropriately report concerns to the police.
Operation Makesafe is a national campaign which aims to help the public and those working in the hospitality sector to identify potential victims of child exploitation and appropriately report concerns to the police.
Hotels can often be used by offenders to abuse and exploit children often due to the anonymity and privacy they provide.
You can find out more about Operation Makesafe and the work being done to protect children by visiting Essex Safeguarding Children Board's website
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Tuesday, 1st July 2025
PCSO 8143 Johnson
Location: Shalford Village Hall, CM7 5EZ
Time: 10:00 – 10:30
Wednesday, 2nd July 2025
PCSO 71674 Williams
Location: Witham Community Beat Surgery, CM8 2FE
Time: 10:00 – 11:00
Saturday, 5th July 2025
PCSO 70714 Thorne
Location: Toppesfield Village Hall
Time: 11:00 – 12:00
Monday, 7th July 2025
PCSO 70955 Cooper
Event: Coffee with Cops
Location: St Nicholas Church, Castle Hedingham
Monday, 7th July 2025
PCSO 70955 Cooper
Location: The Village Shop, Castle Hedingham, CO9 3EJ
Time: 14:00 – 14:30
Saturday, 12th July 2025
S/Sgt 78075 Jesse
Location: Witham Carnival
Time: 11:00 – 16:00
 Crime prevention advice
Vans are often targeted by thieves for the tools stored inside. If you have to leave tools in a van overnight, it's a good idea to mark them clearly with your name / company name and address using paint pens and seal with a clear lacquer spray. Alternatively, you can use a variety of other property marking systems. Items that are clearly marked are less desirable and more difficult to sell on.
Consider using a lockable cabinet within your van to store tools – a number of security rated products are available. Small cameras are also designed to record inside vehicles.
Be fraud smart
There have been occasions when fraudsters have posed as police officers, both in person and on the phone, to trick people into giving them personal information and defraud them of money.
If you're unsure about whether the person you're dealing with is a genuine police officer – stop – and call us on 101 to check their identity.
Please note, if you've been on the phone to someone – who called you – but you have doubts about them, we recommend that you hang up and wait five minutes before you call us. There have been cases of fraudsters keeping the line open after a victim has hung up. Leaving several minutes between calls will make sure that the call has closed..
 What medical conditions must I tell the DVLA about?
You must inform the DVLA if you develop a 'notifiable' disability/medical condition, or if an existing condition has got worse since you obtained your driving licence.
The link below explains what constitutes a notifiable condition and how you can report it to the DVLA: https://www.gov.uk/driving-medical-conditions/telling-dvla-about-a-medical-condition-or-disability
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