News 22 October to 28 October
A day of coordinated action targeting drug dealing activity and associated exploitation saw arrests made, weapons seized and vulnerable people safeguarded.
Our Operation Raptor officers, who work solely on the issue of county lines activity in Essex, joined forces with safeguarding and prevention teams, alongside Eastern Region Special Operations Unit.
On Saturday 18 October, as part of safeguarding visits to those identified as potentially being vulnerable to exploitation by county lines gangs, four referrals have been made into partner agencies.
Two key arrests were also made in relation to suspected drug dealing activity.
Our officers were carrying out patrols in Harlow, when they spotted a young man riding an E-bike wearing a face covering.
Due to recent issues of offending relating to the use of E-bikes in the area, the officers detained him for the purposes of a stop and search.
A man has pleaded guilty to stealing bicycles and e-scooters in Harlow town centre after a spate of thefts.
Jamie Pollard, 22, of Victoria Road, South Woodford, E18, was caught by officers from Harlow Neighbourhood Policing Team after a foot chase on the evening of Friday 17 October.
Pollard had been spotted acting suspiciously near the Water Gardens, and matched the description of a man officers were looking for in relation to bicycle and e-scooter thefts dating back to May.
He was seen running away from the town centre towards Fourth Avenue but was tracked down by officers and arrested near Holdings Road. He was found to be in possession of wire cutters.
 Speeding Drivers Stopped in
Six motorists were stopped by officers on Parsloe Road, a 30mph residential area near a park where joggers, cyclists, and pedestrians are regularly present on Saturday 25 October.
Speeds recorded were between 39–44mph — well above the limit.
This road is not a racetrack. It’s a shared space where safety matters.
We’re taking enforcement action to keep our neighbourhoods safe - but you can play your part too.
 Slow down.
Stay alert.
Protect lives.
Let’s make our roads safer for everyone.
“Our ‘heroes in headsets’ work hard every day to help you and deal with your emergency”
That’s from one of our most senior officers who is paying tribute to all those who work in in our control room we mark International Control Room Week.
Chief Superintendent Tim Tubbs said:
“To many are just a voice but our Contact Centre and Control Centre is right at the heart of what we do. The Contact Officers are usually the first people you’d speak to, it’s where officers get dispatched from, and where many investigations begin.
“Our Control Officers are expert in helping you when you when you need us most and in handling high pressure incidents and situations, staying calm and professional.
“I want to thank everyone who works in our Contact Centre and Control Centre for the work they do each and every day. Without them our officers wouldn’t be able to respond to emergencies or help the public so quickly.”
 Essex Police is joining forces with other UK police forces in a nationwide road safety initiative aimed at raising awareness of the legal eyesight standards required for driving on public roads.
As part of the campaign, officers from Essex Police’s Roads Policing Unit will be conducting roadside vision screenings to ensure drivers meet the minimum legal requirements. These include the ability to read a car number plate from 20 metres (approximately five car lengths), checking that drivers are wearing corrective eyewear if needed, and an adequate field of vision. Additional standards apply to lorry and bus drivers.
The results of these screenings will contribute to the annual ‘Is Your Vision Roadworthy?’ survey, which helps inform future road safety policy and public awareness campaigns.
 What is an Independent Advisory Group or IAG?
IAG's are a group of influential individuals from a diverse range of communities across the district. They get together four times a year to provide insight and constructive feedback to Essex Police on a variety of policing issues.
It's a place to raise awareness of issues of concern or community tension and members provide a critical analysis of policing policy and practice.
It helps to drive improvements in your police service and ultimately increase your confidence in us.
Are you willing to challenge the police to help them improve?
Are you from a diverse community and want a say on policing?
Are you passionate about voicing the needs and concerns of your community?
If the answer is yes, your local Independent Advisory Group (IAG) may be the place for you.
Be part of a two-way conversation with your local police to discuss significant incidents, influence policy and procedure and give feedback on other policing matters.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Wednesday 5 November 10am to 2pm
Safe to go Stow, 28 The Stow, Harlow
Tuesday 11 November 3pm to 4pm
Walk the beat - Meet at Great Parndon Community Association, Abercrombie Way, Harlow
Wednesday 12 November 10am to 2pm
Safe to go Stow, 28 The Stow, Harlow
 Your guide to a safe and fun Halloween
 Halloween is a fun time for many, but not everyone enjoys it. It can also be a busy time for police.
We’re asking everyone to be kind and think of others - especially those who aren’t taking part. What feels like a harmless joke to you could be scary or upsetting to someone else.
Throwing things at houses or playing tricks on neighbours who aren’t involved isn’t just unfair - it could be a crime.
If you’re going trick or treating, please be careful about which doors you knock on. Avoid homes where elderly or vulnerable people live, and try to visit neighbours and friends you know.
Dressing up is part of the fun, but please don’t go out of your way to frighten people.
We want everyone in Essex to enjoy Halloween and Bonfire Night safely, without causing problems in their community.
Fraud Prevention Toolkit
Being targeted or worrying about the risk of fraud can be frightening and overwhelming.
It can leave you with worries about money and create a sense of a loss of identity, control, and not knowing which way to turn.
The need to remember lots of different fraud types can be confusing and feel like an added pressure upon you.
What if there was a way to help you reduce the risk of fraud? Without pressure and just choice, and less fear? Creating a sense of empowerment and hope?
The Fraud Prevention Toolkit has been designed to help you do just that!
 Visit the Essex Police website for last week's crime data. Especially useful to Essex Watch and Neighbourhood Watch groups.
 What are the rules relating to Fireworks?
It is an offence to:
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possess adult fireworks (all fireworks except category 1 fireworks - party poppers, sparklers, throwdowns etc) in a public place by anyone under the age of 18;
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possess category 4 fireworks (professional display fireworks) by anyone other than a fireworks professional;
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it is illegal to supply adult fireworks to those under 18;
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throw or cast or fire any firework in or into any highway, street, thoroughfare or public space (this would include throwing or firing from a private place into a public place, street, highway etc);
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to light any fire or discharge any firearm or firework (without lawful authority or excuse) within 50 feet of the centre of a highway which consists of or comprises a carriageway, and as a consequence, the highway is damaged.
There is a curfew on the use of adult fireworks between 11 pm and 7 am, except on:
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Bonfire Night (when the curfew is between 12 midnight and 7 am);
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New Year's Eve (when the curfew is between 1 am and 7 am);
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Chinese New Year (when the curfew is between 1 am and 7 am);
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Diwali Night (when the curfew is between 1 am and 7 am).
The penalties for using fireworks outside the above curfew hours are imprisonment (maximum 6 months) and a substantial fine. Please note, you could also commit offences if they were being used to cause a nuisance.
Please see websites in Related Information for details from the Health and Safety Executive on how to safely use fireworks and organise a fireworks display.
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