News 27 October to 2 November
During a routine visit to Sworders auctioneers in Stansted Mountfitchet, PC Dane Wyatt from our Rural Engagement Team spotted a 200‑year‑old funeral hatchment displaying the coat of arms of Cecilia Windham. It had been stolen from St Margaret’s Church on the Felbrigg Hall Estate in Norfolk in 1993.
Working with Norfolk Police, the Heraldry Society and Historic England, PC Wyatt confirmed its identity and recovered the artefact. The seller had bought it in good faith around 20 years ago.
The hatchment has now been returned to St Margaret’s Church, re-joining the remaining panels and helping preserve the area’s heritage.
Our Rural Engagement Team works with auction houses across Essex to prevent the sale of stolen historic items and protect cultural sites from damage and theft.
If you have information about stolen artefacts or damage to historic sites, please report it online.
A man from Epping has been sentenced following a series of bomb threats and a racially aggravated assault. The incidents took place in March this year, when the man made multiple threatening calls to emergency services and assaulted a paramedic while using racist language.
Officers quickly identified and arrested him, and he was charged with several offences including making bomb hoaxes and racially aggravated assault.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 months in prison.
We take these kinds of threats and hate crimes extremely seriously and will always work swiftly to bring offenders to justice.
 Marine Unit guest speakers at Harwich Haven annual meeting
Officers from the Essex Police Marine Unit attended the annual Harwich Haven Authority Leisure Vessel Users meeting last week. The officers were invited as guest speakers for the event and gave a presentation about the team’s role in keeping the Marine Community of Essex safe.
This year, the event was hosted onboard the Thames Sailing Barge ‘Victor’.
Ashley Brooks, 40, from Rutland, has been jailed for fraud after taking nearly £150,000 worth of jewellery from customers at his Wickford business between 2019 and 2021.
He failed to sell or return the items, including a £37,000 ring and a £10,000 diamond, and gave false excuses.
Our officers disproved his claims of being robbed using phone and vehicle data.
On 21 October, Brooks was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison at Basildon Crown Court.
Speaking after his sentencing Detective Sergeant Sandy Kelleher said:
“Ashley Brooks utilised his role as a trusted jewellery seller to his advantage.
“This investigation involved painstaking detective work to piece together and debunk his lies to prove that what Brooks had told his victims was simply not true.
“He preyed on their trust and good will and I am pleased he has been brought to justice.”
A man has been convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent after stabbing a police officer in Harlow on 29 December 2023. Declan Diedrick, 25, was armed with a seven-inch serrated knife when officers responded to concerns for his safety at Hull Grove. During the arrest, he stabbed an officer in the face, who needed hospital treatment.
Despite the sudden violence, officers quickly restrained Diedrick with help from a brave member of the public. He was found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court on 30 October 2025.
Detective Superintendent Dan Morrissey called the attack “truly horrifying” and praised the officers’ courage. The injured officer said she approached the call as a mental health concern, aiming to help someone in crisis.
Steve Martin from Essex Police Federation commended the officers and the public for their professionalism and bravery, reinforcing that assaults on police will not be tolerated.
Following a focused investigation by our Southend Neighbourhood Policing Team, two people were arrested on 30 October in connection with four robberies across Southend this month.
Victims were targeted while walking or working, with items including phones, wallets, bags and vape products stolen.
One shopkeeper was assaulted during a robbery.
Thanks to CCTV, witness accounts and victim support, officers identified a suspect and recovered stolen items during a search.
A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of robbery, and a woman of similar age on suspicion of handling stolen goods.
Inspector Jane Childs highlights how the extra officers added in April have helped us tackle priority crimes like robbery more effectively, with local knowledge and community support playing a key role.
A man has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after breaching a court order 13 times.
Adan Bath, 41, failed to follow strict rules designed to protect the public, including hiding online activity, deleting messages, and using devices without telling police.
Our Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) team uncovered the breaches during routine checks and acted quickly. Bath admitted the offences and was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court.
His Sexual Harm Prevention Order remains in place until 2033.
We continue working with partners to prevent further offending.
Parents: check your child’s devices. Visit our Sort Your Settings page for help.
 Neighbourhood Policing Teams make big difference in first six months
Neighbourhood policing teams across Essex have made a significant impact in their first six months, helping to tackle crime and build stronger community relationships.
Officers have carried out over 2,000 stop checks, made more than 1,000 arrests, and seized hundreds of vehicles and weapons. Their work has led to reductions in anti-social behaviour and drug-related crime in several areas.
The teams have also supported vulnerable people and worked closely with local partners to address community concerns.
We remain committed to keeping neighbourhoods safe and listening to residents’ priorities.
A prolific shoplifter has been jailed after repeatedly targeting shops in Chelmsford.
Between 15 September and 17 October, 38-year-old Daniel Gillett stole items worth over £1,000 from stores including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Boots. He was arrested on 17 October and charged with 15 counts of theft. Gillett, of no fixed address, admitted all charges and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on 18 October.
Officers from the local Town Centre Team worked closely with businesses to identify and arrest him quickly, helping to protect local retailers and reduce crime in the area.
We’re proud to celebrate our dedicated Contact Centre and Control Room teams during International Control Room Week. They are often the first point of contact for people in crisis, and their calm, professional response helps keep Essex safe every day.
In September alone, our teams handled nearly 30,000 enquiries - and that was our quietest month. In July, we received around 70,000 enquiries, including nearly 40,000 999 calls. One officer answered over 4,000 emergency calls in the past year, and our average response time for 999 calls is under 10 seconds.
Our teams do much more than answer calls. They assess and allocate crime reports, support domestic abuse victims through our Rapid Video Response unit, maintain vital systems like the Police National Computer, and help safeguard victims.
We’ve also seen a big increase in LiveChat use, with nearly 5,000 chats in July alone.
This helps us manage demand and ensures emergency calls are prioritised.
If you need to contact us for a non-emergency, please consider using LiveChat or our online services instead of calling 101. This helps us focus on those who need urgent help. And remember always call 999 in an emergency.
We can now formally identify the man at the centre of a murder investigation in Brentwood as Roman-Vien Klimas, aged 19. He was sadly found deceased at a property in Norman Crescent on the evening of Sunday 19 October, following concerns raised about his welfare.
A 50-year-old woman, was also present at the address and was arrested. She has since been charged with murder and appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday 22 October. She remains in custody and is due to appear again at the same court on Monday 17 November.
This remains a sensitive and ongoing investigation. Roman’s family are being supported and we ask that their privacy is respected.
Two people have been charged following a serious assault in Chelmsford on 7 October. A man was stabbed after two suspects forced entry into a property. Officers arrived quickly, gave first aid, and the victim is now stable. A 17-year-old boy and a 26-year-old man have been charged with multiple offences including wounding with intent and possession of a knife.
Both are due in court in November.
We continue to support the victim and encourage anyone with information to contact us.
Road safety: Is your vision worthy?
We are supporting a national campaign to check if drivers’ eyesight meets legal standards. Officers will carry out roadside vision tests to ensure drivers can read a number plate from 20 metres and wear corrective eyewear if needed.
Poor eyesight increases the risk of collisions and can lead to fines, points, or disqualification. Drivers who fail may have their licence revoked under Cassie’s Law.
We’re urging everyone to get their eyes tested every two years.
As winter approaches, all road users should think about visibility - how well they can see and how easily they can be seen.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 3 November
10am to 12pm
Epping Market, High Street, Epping
3pm to 4pm
Knightswick Centre - Furtherwick Road Canvey Island
Tuesday 4 November
10am to 12pm
Unity Hub, Eastgate Centre, Basildon,
10:30am to 11:30am
The Megacentre Rayleigh, 7 Brook Road, Rayleigh SS6 7UT
12pm to 2pm
Asda Rayleigh, Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh SS6 9RN
12pm to 1:30pm
South Essex College, High Street, Grays
2pm to 3:30pm
Dementia Carers Group, Community Centre, Long Meadows, Harwich
3pm to 4pm
Galleywood Library, Watchouse Road, Chelmsford
3pm to 4pm
127 London Road, South Benfleet, Benfleet
Wednesday 5 November
10am to 2pm
Safe to go Stow hub, 28 The Stow, Harlow
11am to 12pm
Hardie Park Cafe, Hardie Road, Stanford-Le-Hope
1pm to 3pm
Heybridge Parish Council, Plantation Hall, Colchester Road, Maldon
3pm to 4pm
Poundland, 43-45 Pier Avenue, Clacton on Sea
Thursday 6 November
10am to 12pm
The Basildon Centre, (reception), St. Martin's Square, Basildon, Essex,
11am to 1pm
Outside M&S, 43-45 High Street, Brentwood
11am to 12pm
Heybridge Parish Council, Plantation Hall, Colchester Road, Maldon
12pm to 2pm
The Victoria Shopping Centre, Chartwell Square, Southend
3pm to 4pm
East Tilbury Hub, Princess Avenue, East Tilbury
5pm to 6pm
Co-op, Lower Street, Stansted
6pm to 7pm
Stansted Library, Chapel Hill, Stansted
Friday 7 November
10am to 11am
Waitrose, London Road, Leigh
10am to 11am
Harwich Market, High Street, Dovercourt
10am to 11:30am
Walton Food Bank, Standley Road, Walton on the Naze
11am to 12pm
Highwoods Square, Colchester CO4 9ED
11am to 1pm
1 Garden Fields, Steeple Village Hall, Steeple, Southminster CM0 7JY
6pm to 7pm
Co-op, White Street, Great Dunmow
Saturday 8 November
10am to 11am
Jaywick Library, Golf Green Road, Jaywick
10am to 11am
Asda Supermarket, Bull Hill Road, Clacton
11am to 12pm
Parade of shops, Silva Island Way, Wickford
11am to 1pm
Hadleigh High Street, Hadleigh, Benfleet
3pm to 4pm
Mercury Theatre, Balkerne Gate, Colchester, CO1 1PT
Sunday 9 November
10am to 11am
Morrisons Supermarket, Centenary Way, Little Clacton
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
 Crime prevention advice
Stay safe
If you're heading out for the evening or going away for a few days, make your home look lived in to help keep it safe.
Use timer switches to turn lights or radios on and off.
You could also ask a neighbour or friend to park on your driveway.
Be fraud smart
Type don’t tap
Visit trusted sites by going old-school and typing their web address directly into your browser.
Help keep your details safe.
 Join our team
Police staff jobs
Contact Centre Officers £26,106 to £28,650
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
 This week we remember
William Campling
William Campling was the High Constable of Saffron Walden Borough in 1949 - the equivalent today of the Chief Constable. In the early days of policing in Essex, there was no one single county force. Instead, there were four smaller borough forces of which the Saffron Walden Borough force was one. It was a very small body of officers amounting to a handful of regular and part-time employees.
William was shot 40 to 60 times outside his home in Bridge Street Saffron Walden on 31 October 1849. He died of shock 9 day later on 9 November 1849. The case remains unsolved.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
 Obituaries
Kevin Wakefield
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague Kevin Wakefield who retired as an Inspector in 2012 and served at Stansted, Braintree, Maldon, IT and Saffron Walden. He passed away on the 17 October 2025 aged 66 years.
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