News 28 July to 3 August
Meet one of our newest recruits – trainee police pup Cash.
Cash is a 14-week-old Lab and already he’s sniffing out trouble, as you can see from the pictures.
Cash’s puppy walker says he’s ‘full of beans and a very confident chap wanting to play with the big doggos’.
He’s now with his full-time puppy walker and, if he shows the skills we need, he’ll start his police dog training with us next year to become a specialist search dog, helping officers to locate drugs & cash and catch criminals.
Clacton: Trial date set for woman charged with murder
A woman is due to stand trial in September following the death of James Self, 47, in Clacton in 2023.
The 41-year-old woman from London was initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm after an assault at a hotel on Hartley Brook Road on 8 November 2023. Following Mr Self’s death on 21 December 2023, she was charged with murder and has remained in custody since her arrest. She also faces a charge of criminal damage.
The trial is scheduled to begin at Chelmsford Crown Court on 8 September 2025.
 Epping Forest & Brentwood: Prolific shoplifter banned from all Essex BP and Shell garages for five years
Jordan Carter, 28, from Epping, has been jailed and banned from entering all BP and Shell garages in Essex for five years after a string of thefts across Debden, Epping, and Brentwood.
He was arrested in Brentwood shortly after stealing £1,500 worth of skincare products from Boots and later admitted to 11 shop thefts, totalling nearly £2,900. These included repeated thefts from a BP station and alcohol from a Shell garage.
Carter was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Southend Magistrates’ Court and handed a Criminal Behaviour Order. If he enters any BP or Shell garage in Essex during the next five years, he could face further jail time.
We can confirm that a body has been recovered from the deneholes in Hangman’s Woods, Grays, following a report received shortly after 2:05pm on Tuesday 29 July.
Our officers, working with specialist teams and partners, used technical equipment to safely recover the body. Work is now ongoing to establish the person’s identity and the circumstances surrounding their death.
Detective Inspector Lydia George thanked the local community and businesses for their support during the operation.
Following the inquest opening on 31 July, we can now confirm the identities of the four people who tragically died in the Southend plane crash on 13 July: Danny Franken, Floris Rhee, Matthias Eyl, and Maria Ortiz.
Their families, based overseas, are being supported by specialist officers and their respective embassies as repatriation arrangements are made.
Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin praised the work of the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team, led by HM Coroner and supported by Essex Police, which used forensic methods to ensure accurate identification. We continue to ask the media to respect the privacy of the victims’ families.
Parallel investigations by Essex Police and the Air Accident Investigation Branch remain ongoing.
A 62-year-old man from Colchester has been charged with multiple serious offences following a long-running investigation into reports of abuse spanning more than four decades. The charges include a range of violent and sexual offences, as well as drug-related crimes.
A man was arrested in November 2024 in connection with these offences, questioned by officers and released on bail while their enquiries continued.
He has since been charged and is remanded in custody ahead of his next Court appearance.
We’re urging anyone with information to come forward via our Major Incident Public Portal, where specialist support is available.
We’ve charged 7,281 suspects so far this year - nearly 600 more than the same period in 2024 - thanks to the hard work of officers and staff. This includes more arrests for burglary, shop theft, and sexual offences, helping us deliver justice and protect communities.
Crime across Essex is also down by 8,500 offences, and we’ve seen major court results, including jail time for fraudsters, robbers, and violent offenders. Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington says this progress reflects our commitment to putting victims first and making Essex safer.
 Southend: Fifty-eight e-bikes and e-scooters seized in new crackdown
Since March, officers from Southend’s Neighbourhood Policing Team have seized 58 e-bikes and e-scooters being used illegally in public spaces.
The operation targets riders using vehicles without insurance or licences, or in areas where they’re not permitted. Officers are reminding the public that ignorance of the law is not an excuse - and there will be no second chances for those caught breaking the rules.
Privately owned e-scooters remain illegal to use on public roads, pavements, and parks. Only rental e-scooters in approved trial areas are legal, and riders must meet licence and insurance requirements.
Four charged following hare coursing investigation
Four men from Essex have been charged following a major investigation into hare coursing and violent disorder in Cambridgeshire. The charges are part of a wider operation involving seven police forces, which has led to 25 people being charged with 39 offences. Several other people have received warnings and restrictions to prevent further offences. The are due in court in September.
Community Speed Watch volunteers having been monitoring speeding across the county, recording 301 offences in just one week. The initiative targeted busy and high-risk areas, including Southend, Colchester, and Epping, with some drivers caught going over 50mph in 30mph zones. The campaign aims to raise awareness and reduce road danger, supporting Essex’s goal of zero road deaths by 2040.
A Halstead teenager has been charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm and shop theft after an investigation by Braintree Neighbourhood Policing Team.
The 15-year-old was arrested following the assault of a customer at the Co-Op store in Colchester Road, Halstead, on 23 March 2025.
He has since been charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm, shop theft and attempted shop theft.
He is due to appear before Colchester magistrates on 8 August 2025.
Our volunteer police officers, Special Constables, recently led a busy evening shift in Southend, responding to a range of incidents including arrests, disturbances, and a missing person case. Their efforts showed how vital they are in keeping the community safe, working alongside regular officers while bringing valuable skills from their day jobs.
North Weald: Man charged with arson
Officers have secured charges against a man following a car fire in North Weald.
We were called to a fire in Epping Road at 12.20pm on Sunday 27 July which led to four cars being damaged.
A 29 year-old man from Epping was arrested a short time later.
He has now been charged with three counts of arson and failing to provide a specimen.
We want to thank the public for their support with our investigation.
A man who scammed a grieving family by pretending to organise a funeral has been jailed for over seven years. Mark Kerbey, 62, took £2,600 from the widow of a man who died in Southend Hospital, claiming he’d arranged a service at Pitsea Crematorium. In reality, no booking had been made, and his business was banned from using local funeral venues.
On the day, the family arrived to find no funeral had been arranged. Kerbey then offered a makeshift service at his small funeral home, which was unsuitable and deeply upsetting. The family had to pay more to transfer the body to a legitimate provider, and the man was eventually laid to rest without his loved ones present.
Kerbey was found guilty of fraud and other offences.
 Social media: Love it or hate it - we want to know what you think
Love it or hate it, social media is part of modern policing.
Whether our posts make you feel informed, concerned, curious or reassured - we want to hear from you.
If you follow us on social media (as well as subscribing to Dispatch) we want you to tell us how you think social media should be used in policing.
Your feedback will help shape how we use it going forward.
Complete our short survey to have your say
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 4 August
10am to 11am
Community Shop, High Street, Henham
10:30am to 11:30am
Quadrant Department Store, 220 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford
11:30am to 1pm
Norman Booth Paddling Pool, Old Harlow
12pm to 1pm
Pams Place, Vicarage Mead, Thaxted
12:30pm to 1:30pm
Secret garden tea room, 93 High Street, Rayleigh SS6 7EJ
1pm to 3pm
Riverside Ice & Leisure, Victoria Road, Chelmsford
3pm to 4pm
Hadleigh Cycle Park, Chapel Lane, Hadleigh
4:30pm to 5:30pm
Runnymede Leisure Centre, Kiln Road, Benfleet
Tuesday 5 August
10am to 11am
Memorial Hall, Elsenham
10am to 11am
Coffee Pot, Church Lane, Canfield
10:30am to 11:30am
Rochford Market, 22-24 West Street, Rochford SS4 1AL
12pm to 4pm
Colchester Youth Festival, behind Castle Park
2pm to 3pm
Jubilee Beach Office (near fountains), Marine Parade, Southend
4pm to 5pm
Safe To Go Stow hub, 28 The Stow, Harlow
4:30pm to 5:30pm
Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Somnes Avenue, Canvey Island
Wednesday 6 August
9am to 12pm
St Michael and All Angels Church, 20 The St, Roxwell, Chelmsford
10am to 11am
Priors Hall, Lindsell
10:30am to 11:30am
Chelmsford Library Chelmsford County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford
11:30am to 1pm
Bush Fair Paddling Pool, Tilegate Road, Harlow
11:30am to 12pm
starting at Great Saling Village Hall
12:30pm to 1:30pm
The Beacon Centre, Drake Road, Chafford Hundred
1pm to 2pm
Village Store, Hatfield Broad Oak
2pm to 3pm
Ockendon Centre, Derry Avenue
2pm to 3pm
Starting on Finchingfield Green
2pm to 3pm
Village Store, Hatfield Broad Oak
5pm to 6pm
McDonald's 36/37 High Street, Chelmsford
Thursday 7 August
10am to 3pm
Recreation Ground, Great Dunmow
11:30am to 12:30pm
Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Somnes Avenue, Canvey Island
12pm to 1pm
Golden Cross Parade, Rochford SS4 1UB
5pm to 6pm
Co-op, Lower Street, Stansted
5pm to 6pm
Touch Point, Crafton Green, Stansted
Friday 8 August
11:30am to 1pm
Sumners Paddling Pool, Broadley Road, Harlow
10:30am to 11:30am
Clements Hall Leisure Centre, Hawkwell SS5 4LN
Saturday 9 August
10:30am to 11:30am
Clements Hall Leisure Centre, Rochford SS5 4LN
11:30am to 1pm
Town Park Paddling Pool, Harlow
11:30am to 1pm
Potter Street Paddling Pool, Potter Street, Harlow
Sunday 10 August
12pm to 3pm
Maldon Promenade Park, Maldon
12pm to 4pm
Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Somnes Avenue, Canvey Island
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
 Crime prevention advice
Going on holiday this summer?
Whether it’s a weekend away or something longer, a few small steps can make a big difference in securing your home.
- Timers on lights can help your home look lived-in.
- Tell a trusted neighbour who can help keep an eye out.
- Be mindful about posting your travel plans online.
Be fraud smart
Could the link in that message be fake?
Criminals will use ‘phishing’ links in messages to try and trick you into parting with your personal or financial information.
Be cautious of any unexpected texts and if it looks suspicious, forward the text to 7726 which will report it to your phone provider.
 Join our team
Police staff jobs
Training and Skills Administrator £24,219
Business Advisor £35,526
CCTV Evidence Officer £32,244
Roads Policing Prosecution Support Officer £26,106
Evidence Recovery Technician £26,106
Digital Forensic Technician £32,244
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
 This week we remember
Albert Davies
Police Constable Albert Davies served with Essex County Constabulary from December 21, 1937 and having completed training he was posted to Braintree, Witham and Chelmsford. Six days after his marriage to Florence, he was recalled to the army. Albert was killed in action on Friday, August 4 1944., whilst serving as Lance Serjeant 2733791 with 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards. He was aged 28.
Edward Raven
Edward Raven served with Essex County Constabulary from April 4, 1859. His first posting was to Chelmsford until June 1862, but for the next 20 years he was one of the Essex police officers whose wages were paid by the Burnham Oyster Company to protect their fisheries. In 1882 Edward left the fisheries and volunteered for the Foulness beat.
On 7 August 1886 Edward Raven had taken his mentally handicapped son back to the Colchester asylum. He was returning to Foulness in a small boat when it capsized in the strong breeze, and he was drowned.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
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