News 10 September to 16 September
A man who is facing trial for 26 offences — including 12 counts of rape — has now been charged with three more offences.
As part of a separate investigation into an assault in Colchester in 2014, we received reports of alleged offences which took place over the last 40 years.
As a result of the investigations which ensued, Duncan Edwards, 62, of Swan Grove, Chappel, was charged with the 26 offences.
Officers are continuing to investigate the additional reports made to us and on Tuesday 9 September, Edwards – whose former name is Duncan Diggle, and previously of addresses in the Farnworth area of Bolton, Greater Manchester – was further charged with one count of rape and two counts of indecent assault.
A man has been charged with 38 animal welfare offences as part of an investigation by neighbourhood police officers in Colchester.
Working in partnership with the RSPCA, officers executed a warrant under Section 23 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 at an address in Defoe Crescent, Colchester.
Inside the property, officers found 19 dogs in concerning conditions. Further searches also located animal remains in other parts of the property
A man was arrested at the scene.
Richard Wiper, 39, of Defoe Crescent, has now been charged with 38 animal welfare offences and is next due to appear in Ipswich Crown Court on 25 September.
“Your Neighbourhood Policing Teams have made a big difference keeping you safe this summer”.
That’s from one of our most senior officers after figures show our newly expanded Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) made secured 50 percent more arrests and charges this year than in 2024.
Between June and August NPTs made 913 arrests and secured 940 charges compared to 614 arrests and 507 charges during the same time last year.
As part of our commitment to our neighbourhoods, 72 more officer roles were added to our NPTs at the start of April and the teams focus on the issues that matter most to you.
Helping to keep our rural roads safe for all is a top priority for our rural engagement officers.
And they have conducted speed checks at more than 170 locations in villages and other rural areas in the past 11 months.
Community Speed watch
If you are interested in forming or joining a local Community Speed Watch group, visit the Community Speed Watch webpages for more information.
Volunteers are trained by the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) to use hand-held speed guns safely and correctly and to record the speeds of passing vehicles.
You will be joining groups of committed volunteers helping to make our roads safer by encouraging drivers to reduce their speed and contribute towards SERP’s Vision Zero strategy, which aims to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Essex roads to zero by 2040.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Wednesday 17 September 10am to 11am
CESSAC, Fallowfield Road, St Michaels
Friday 19 September 1pm-2pm
Ali's BBQ house, The parade
Tuesday 23 September 10:30am- 12pm
Unit 17, Culver Walk, Lion Walk Shopping Centre
Saturday 27 September 12pm- 4pm
The Minories , 74 High street
 Crime prevention advice
Residential Burglary Alert – Stay Secure, Stay Safe
We’ve seen a slight rise in residential burglaries across Colchester in recent weeks. A significant number of these incidents involve offenders gaining access through open windows and unlocked doors, often during daylight hours when residents are at home or briefly away.
These are typically opportunistic crimes, where burglars take advantage of easy access points and visible valuables.
To help protect your home and community, please consider the following crime prevention tips:
Secure Your Home
- Lock all doors and windows, even when you're inside or just popping out.
- Install window restrictors to allow ventilation without compromising security.
- Use deadlocks and security chains on external doors.
Make Your Home Less Attractive to Burglars
- Keep valuables out of sight, especially near windows and doors.
- Use timers on lights to give the impression someone is home.
- Maintain good visibility around your property—trim hedges and install motion-activated lighting.
Be a Good Neighbour
- Look out for each other—report suspicious behaviour immediately.
- Join or support your local Neighbourhood Watch group.
- If you're going away, ask a trusted neighbour to check in and move post or bins.
Report and Stay Informed
- If you see anything unusual, report it to Essex Police via 101 or online.
- In an emergency or if a crime is in progress, always call 999.
- Follow Essex Police Colchester on social media for updates and alerts.
Together, we can reduce burglary and keep Colchester a safe place to live. Let’s stay vigilant and proactive.
Be fraud smart
As we continue to tackle residential burglary across Colchester, it's important to be aware of fraud linked to burglary. In some cases, offenders use deceptive tactics—posing as tradespeople, delivery drivers, or even officials—to gain access to homes or gather personal information.
These scams can lead to both physical theft and identity fraud. The good news is that simple steps can make a big difference:
Protect Yourself from Fraud-Related Burglary
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Always verify the identity of unexpected visitors—ask for ID and don’t be afraid to call their company to confirm.
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Never share personal details at the door, especially about your routine, travel plans, or who lives in the home.
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Keep documents and valuables secure, especially items with financial or identity information.
- Consider installing a video doorbell or intercom system to safely screen visitors.
By staying alert and informed, we can reduce the risk of fraud and burglary in our community. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and report it to Essex Police via 101 or online.
 Colchester continues to be a vibrant and safe place to live, work, and visit. Recent figures show that overall crime in the area has stabilised, with some categories seeing a downward trend thanks to proactive policing and strong community partnerships.
While we remain vigilant around issues such as violence and sexual offences, which are still the most reported, there has been a notable decrease in theft from the person and other opportunistic crimes. These improvements reflect the ongoing efforts of Essex Police, local authorities, neighbourhood watch and residents working together to make Colchester safer.
We encourage everyone to stay informed, get involved in local initiatives, and continue reporting suspicious activity—because together, we make a difference.
Visit the Essex Police website for last week's crime data. Especially useful to Essex Watch and Neighbourhood Watch groups.
 How can I protect my home from burglary?
A secure home will reduce the chance of you getting burgled. Many domestic burglaries are committed by opportunists; criminals will look for homes that have little or no obvious security, have doors or windows left open or seem unoccupied.
Listed below are some top tips to help keep your home safe from thieves:
- Installing an alarm system will help to deter burglars.
- Ensure you have a robust, secure front door with British Standard approved locks and hinges. See the link in Related Information for detailed guidance from the Master Locksmiths Association.
- Install outside lighting, such as motion sensor lights so that intruders cannot approach without being seen.
- Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when you are just out in the garden.
- Consider installing CCTV, as this is good deterrent for thieves and if you are targeted, CCTV can provide valuable evidence.
- When you go out, leave radios or lights in your house on a timer to make the property appear occupied.
- Keep hedges and walls at the front of your house low (under one metre) so burglars have nowhere to hide.
- Keep side and rear boundaries high and add trellis or prickly defensive planting to make it harder for burglars to climb over.
- If you have a sliding patio door, check it has an anti-lift device fitted so it can't be lifted out of the frame.
- Move bins or garden furniture that could be used to reach windows.
- Ensure communal doors in flats / apartments are closed and secure and report any faults to your landlord or maintenance company.
- Never buzz anyone into the building that you do not know or let them follow behind you.
- Lock and secure any sheds and outbuildings.
- Property mark and register valuable items. See Related Information for details.
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