News 30 June to 6 July
 Southend: Tributes to seven-year-old girl after Chalkwell Park incident
The family of a seven-year-old girl who died following the partial collapse of a tree in Southend have described her as "the light in their lives".
Leonna Ruka, from Dagenham, was visiting family in the area on Saturday 28 June.
They had travelled to Chalkwell Park and, like many other members of the public that day, were enjoying the warm summer weather.
Shortly before 3pm, a tree in the park partially collapsed. Several children were caught beneath it, including Leonna.
Many members of the public immediately rushed to help the children. They were swiftly joined by first responders from all emergency services.
Leonna was taken on to hospital but very sadly died.
We continue to provide support to her family.
A six-year-old girl remains in hospital in a critical condition. Three other children received minor injuries.
 "We’re getting more results for victims – getting justice for them is our priority”
That’s from our Chief Constable as new figures show we solved nearly 500 more offences in the last year than the previous 12 months.
In that time, we’ve seen increases in the number of serious violent crimes, rape and sexual offences, the most serious domestic abuse, vehicle thefts, and thefts from shops solved.
In particular, the number of vehicle theft offences solved has more than doubled.
Changes to front counter services
In January 2025, we noted less than 3% of all enquiries at police station front counters were made for the purpose of reporting a crime or giving us information about suspected criminal activity. Over the last year, online reporting and Live Chat contact through the force website continued to increase.
As a result, from Friday 11 July the front counters at police stations in Basildon, Braintree, Clacton, and Harlow will close.
The police stations themselves will remain open. Officers and most police staff will still be based there and working in the area.
The police presence at the front counters at the locations we share with local councils in Maldon and Saffron Walden will also go.
Front counters in Chelmsford, Colchester, Grays, and Southend will remain open and maintain their current opening hours.
 Marine Unit rescues four boats during coastal anti-social behaviour patrols
The extreme hot weather has brought people flocking to the Essex coast and our Marine Unit has been busy out on patrols.
You’ll see them at busy spots during the summer as part of their Operation Wave-Breaker campaign to reduce anti-social behaviour and increase safety on the water through engagement, education and enforcement.
At the weekend, the River Blackwater was busier than usual which resulted in four boats between Maldon and West Mersea getting into difficulty and requiring our help. Officers were able to re-start two of the boats which had broken down and towed the other two to safety.
Additionally, the team’s volunteer special constable patrolled in and around West Mersea on Friday evening 27 June, speaking with the marine community there about issues with children lighting fires on the beach.
Sergeant Alex Southgate says the team are investigating an incident in which damage was caused to a small dinghy on the beach after children lit a fire nearby.
“With the recent dry weather, there’s always a risk that a small fire can quickly get out of hand and spread.”
On Saturday, marine officers were patrolling in Steeple Bay when they stopped a personal watercraft being driven at speed in a restricted area. A 25-year-old rider from Rainham has been reported for breaching local water byelaws and a file has been submitted to Maldon District Council for process.
Alex says:
“We want people to enjoy their time at the coast but we also want everyone to keep safe and this is why strict water speed limits have been imposed by local councils.
“Other river-users, including paddleboarders and dinghy sailors, were nearby at the time and the speed limit in this particular area is to ensure that everybody on the water is safe.”
 Rachel Dixon
Clacton: Man pleads guilty to murder
A man admitted murdering a woman in Clacton when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 26 June.
Oliver Grange, 24, of Skelmersdale Avenue, Clacton, admitted the single charge following the incident at his home address on 21 March.
We were called to a woman being seriously injured and, despite the best efforts of emergency services at the scene, 49-year-old Rachel Dixon died.
Grange was arrested at the scene and an investigation was launched by detectives from our serious crime directorate.
 A busy night for PD Lando leads to three arrests
Police Dog Lando had a busy night, helping officers find three suspected offenders in two separate incidents. Just before 7pm on Saturday 21 June, officers saw a moped they believed was linked to a burglary in Colchester earlier that evening.
Checks showed the moped may have had cloned number plates. When officers tried to stop the rider, they didn’t stop, and a chase began with help from the police helicopter.
The rider left the moped and ran away, but PD Lando quickly found someone hiding in a nearby barn. A 40-year-old man from Surrey was arrested on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary.
He has been released on bail while we continue our enquiries.
Later that night, PD Lando was called out again after a car failed to stop for officers and reportedly crashed into a police vehicle in Crays Hill. The people inside ran off.
PD Lando worked quickly and led his handler, PC Sam Williams to a toilet cubicle in a closed Garden Centre, where two men were found attempting to hide.
 Drug gang jailed for 19 years
Thanks to the work of Essex Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, three men who sought to import cocaine into the UK have been jailed for a total of 19 years and 4 months.
The men formed an Organised Crime Group who sourced and shipped large amounts of drugs into the country for onward distribution and sale. At Chelmsford Crown Court, Paul Tibbs, Adrian Reeve and Darren Smith were jailed for their illegal activities on Friday 27 June.
 Eight arrested on suspicion of immigration offences following welfare checks
Seven men and one woman were arrested and detained after officers visited businesses in Chelmsford and Maldon to check on the welfare and legal status of the people working there.
Chelmsford and Maldon Neighbourhood Policing Team were joined by officials from the immigration service, local council representatives and a victim navigator from the charity Justice and Care following an investigation into modern slavery and organised immigration crime.
Arrests were made at three locations but there were no causes for concern at the majority of businesses visited.
 Significant breakthrough in tackling vehicle crime
It’s thanks to a combination of partnership working, technology, intelligence and dedicated investigative work, officers have successfully solved more cases than ever, returning stolen vehicles to their rightful owners and bringing offenders to justice.
Figures show vehicle thefts continue to fall, with 573 fewer offences in the last 12 months to the end of May, a reduction of almost 10%.
Of particular note, the rate at which we’re solving vehicle thefts continues to increase and we’ve solved 126% more offences in the same period - a figure that underscores the force’s commitment to protecting the public and their property.
And theft from a vehicle is also down 1,572 offences, a 26% reduction.
 616 speeding offences identified by officers
Officers keeping you safe on the roads in your neighbourhood identified more than 600 speeding offences in just eight days in areas where it’s been identified as a big issue.
Between 16 and 23 June, officers from our Road Crime Team carried out speed checks in neighbourhoods across the county.
The activity was funded by the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) which is commited to achieving Vision Zero – the elimination of all road deaths and serious injuries on Essex’s roads.
In total, 616 offences were recorded in key areas where speeding has been identified as a high risk:
Harwich
Takeley, Dunmow, and Stansted Mountfitchet
- 226 offences including speeds of 48mph in a 30mph zone
Beaulieu Parkway in Chelmsford
- 141 offences including speeds of up to 60mph in a 40mph zone
Great Bromley and Elmstead Market
Pilgrims Hatch and Shenfield
- 28 offences including 51mph in a 30mph zone
A414, Commonside Road, and Station Road
Ramsden Heath, Bicknacre, and South Woodham Ferrers
- 11 offences including 40mph in a 30mph zone
Sewardstone Road, Goldings Hill, and Oakwood Hill in Loughton, Chigwell Rise, Abridge, and Theydon Bois
- 72 offences including a speed of 46mph in a 30mph zone
 Marine Unit appeal to beach visitors and water-users
Our marine officers are asking visitors to our coasts to be aware of nesting birds on the beaches and take care not to disturb them.
The Marine Unit is in the midst of its annual Wave-Breaker operation to tackle anti-social behaviour and promote water safety along the Essex coast by encouraging all water-users to be aware of each other and to keep within speed limits.
 Saffron Walden: Tackling anti-social behaviour
Back in May this year, we were called to reports of an intoxicated man in Saffron Walden High Street. Members of the public told us he was shouting and attempting to fight passers-by. While officers were on their way to the scene, further calls came in reporting the same man pushing people, including staff at a shop in the High Street.
Officers swiftly arrived and the man, identified as 47-year-old Craig Henderson, fled on a bicycle. He didn’t get very far, with officers catching up to him, restraining him and taking him into custody.
Following an investigation, Henderson, of Church Walk, Littlebury, was charged with and later admitted three counts of assault by beating.
He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 23 June, where he received a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order, banning him from entering areas across Saffron Walden, including: High Street, Market Street, Market Row, Market Walk, Mercers Row, King Street, Cross Street and Central Arcade.
He must pay a fine and complete alcohol treatment and rehabilitation activity requirements.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 7 July
9am to 12pm
Elmstead Marketeers, School Road, Elmstead Market
10am to 11am
Asda Supermarket, Bull Hill Road, Clacton on Sea
10am to 11am
The Council Offices, Victoria Place, Brightlingsea
10:30am to 12pm
The Orchards Cafe, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow, Chelmsford
11am to 12pm
Towngate Theatre St. Martins Square, Basildon
11am to 12pm
St Nicholas Church
12pm to 1pm
Knightswick Centre - Furtherwick Road Canvey Island
2pm to 2:30pm
The Village Shop Castle Hedingham
6:30pm to 8pm
Belfairs Woodlands Centre, Eastwood Road North, Leigh
Tuesday 8 July
10am to 11am
Canfield Coffee Pot, All Saints Church, Little Canfield
10am to 12pm
Oasis Cafe, Frinton Free Church, Connaught Avenue, Frinton on Sea
10am to 11am
Memorial Hall, Elsenham
10:30am to 11:30am
Rochford Banking Hub, West Street, Rochford SS4 1AJ
10:30am to 1pm
8 Austin Road, Basildon, Essex
12:30pm to 1:30pm
Secret Garden tearoom, 93 High Street, Rayleigh SS6 7EJ
4:30pm to 5:30pm
Runnymede Leisure Centre, Kiln Road, Benfleet
Wednesday 9 July
9:30am to 12pm
St Michael and All Angels Church, 20 The St, Roxwell, Chelmsford
10am to 11am
Costa Coffee, Waterglade Retail Park, Next, Unit 3, Old Road, Clacton on Sea
10am to 11am
Wimpole Road Church 49 Wimpole Road, Colchester, Essex,
10am to 11am
Kappa Coffee House, Buntens Barn, Newport
10:30am to 11:30am
Chelmsford Library Chelmsford County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford
11am to 12pm
Tilbury Hub, Civic Square
11:30am to 12:30pm
Rayleigh Market, High Street, Rayleigh SS6 7EA
4:30pm to 5:30pm
Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Somnes Avenue, Canvey Island
Thursday 10 July
10am to 11am
Purfleet Community Pantry & Cafe, 32 River Court, Centurion Way
10am to 12pm
Touchpoint, Chapel Hill, Stansted
11am to 12pm
Wood Cottage Tea Room, Felsted
1pm to 2pm
Impulse Leisure Cafe, Blackshots Lane, Grays
1pm to 2pm
Morrisons - 175 London Road, Hadleigh, Benfleet
4pm to 5pm
Morrisons - 175 London Road, Hadleigh, Benfleet
Friday 11 July
11am to 12:30pm
London Road, Leigh
11am to 12:30pm
Waitrose, London Road, Leigh
6pm to 7pm
RBL, Bury Chase, Felstead
Saturday 12 July
9am to 10am
Berecroft, Harlow
10am to 4pm
The Tendring Show, Bromley Road, Lawford, Manningtree
10:30am to 4pm
Wivenhoe Quay
11:30am to 12:30pm
TOAST CULVER PRECINCT
12:30pm to 1:30pm
Secret garden tea room, 93 High Street, Rayleigh SS6 7EJ
Sunday 13 July
11am to 4pm
Heybridge Parish Council, Plantation Hall, Colchester Road, Maldon
12pm to 1pm
Golden Cross Parade, Rochford SS4 1UB
3:30pm to 5:30pm
St Peters Church, Littlebury Green
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
 Crime prevention advice
Don’t let thieves take the lead
Even the fastest cars in the world are protected 24/7.
Your vehicle deserves the same.
Here are some top tips to keep your vehicle safe:
- Lock it every time – Even during quick stops.
- Keep keys out of sight – Especially near doors or windows.
- Use a steering lock – A simple, visible deterrent.
Criminals move fast, so stay one step ahead
Be fraud smart
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.
 Join our team
Police staff jobs
Property Officer £26,106
Police National Computer Support Officer £24,219
Insurance Technician £32,244
Operational Driver Training Instructor £32,244
Recruitment Assistant £26,106
Forensic Quality Officer £29,109
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
Sydney Francis Crabb
Read about the career of Sydney Francis Crabb who served with Essex County Constabulary from 24 August 1914 and died on 7 July 1916.
Walter Perry
Read about the career of Walter Perry who served with Essex County Constabulary from 7 September 1914 and died on 9 July 1918.
 Ian Dibell
Ian Dibell joined Essex Police on 18 June 2001 and was posted to Clacton-on-Sea. On 9 July 2012 he was shot and fatally injured when intervening in an incident close to his home in Great Clacton.
Alfred Hyde
Read about the career of Alfred Hyde who served with Essex County Constabulary from June 17, 1913 and died on July 12 1918. Read more
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
 Obituaries
Americo Watkins
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Americo Watkins who was medically retired in 1992 and finished his service at Southend. He passed away on the 29 May 2025 aged 68 years.
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