News 26 November to 2 December
 Drug dealer arrested by sharp-eyed neighbourhood officers is jailed
A drug dealer arrested by Braintree neighbourhood policing officers after they spotted him acting suspiciously has been jailed.
Difrim Metalliri, 35, of Beckets View, Northampton, was jailed for one year and 10 months when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court. He had previously admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
The court heard that the neighbourhood officers had spotted a vehicle acting suspiciously in Coggeshall Road, Braintree, on 20 August 2025. They caught up with it in Stisted and promptly arrested Metalliri.
Subsequent police searches led to the seizure of a large quantity of cocaine and some cannabis.
 It’s Not Just the Festive Season – It’s Also Hare Coursing Season
While many of us are preparing for the festive celebrations, this time of year also brings a serious issue for our rural communities: hare coursing.
Hare coursing is an illegal activity where dogs are used to chase hares, often for betting purposes. It’s not just a wildlife crime — it has a significant impact on rural communities. Farmers and landowners suffer damage to crops, fields, and property. It can lead to intimidation, threats, and even violence when offenders are challenged. The presence of coursing gangs often leaves communities feeling unsafe and vulnerable.
Why does it matter?
- It’s cruel to wildlife and causes unnecessary suffering.
- It damages farmland and disrupts rural livelihoods.
- It often involves organised crime and anti-social behaviour.
What can you do?
If you see hare coursing happening — or suspect it — please call the police immediately. Do not approach those involved. Your report could help us protect wildlife, safeguard rural communities, and bring offenders to justice.
Together, we can make a difference. Thank you for helping us keep our countryside safe.
Off-duty cop helps us stop drink driver three times the limit
Police officers are known for always being ready – even when they’re off duty. That proved true on Saturday 26 April when an off-duty Metropolitan Police officer raised the alarm about a car being driven dangerously on the A120 near Braintree.
The officer spotted a red Mazda 2 swerving across the road, veering into the path of oncoming traffic and hitting the kerb several times. Concerned for public safety, the officer called 999 and continued to follow the vehicle until it stopped near Braintree Cemetery, where Essex Police’s Roads Policing Unit stepped in.
The 63-year-old driver from Braintree was breathalysed and found to be more than three times over the legal alcohol limit. He was arrested at the roadside on suspicion of drink driving.
He appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 26 November, where he admitted driving under the influence of alcohol. He was banned from driving for four years and ordered to complete 140 hours of unpaid work as part of a community order. The driving ban may be reduced if he completes an approved course.
PC Gates of our Roads Policing Unit said: “As roads policing officers, we’re dedicated to keeping the roads safe and reducing collisions. I’d like to thank our off-duty colleague for making road safety a priority that night. This driver blatantly broke the law and put himself and others at serious risk.”
 Help Us Support This Year’s Toy Appeal
A Big Thank You to The Works, Braintree
Your donations bin, which we collected yesterday, is already helping us make a difference. We truly appreciate your support!
It’s that time of year again when we ask for the amazing support of our community.
Last year, we worked with The Salvation Army to help over a hundred local families with gifts and toys for Christmas. These are families referred to us who might be finding the festive season extra challenging.
Would you help us make that happen again this year? You can support in three ways:
Drop off a toy at any of our local collection points (see below).
Send a gift via our Amazon Wish List — quick, simple, and delivered straight where it’s needed.
Donate through our JustGiving page if you’d prefer to give financially.
Drop-Off Points:
- The Salvation Army, Rayne Road
- Braintree District Council (Causeway House)
- The Works, George Yard
- Tesco (Town Centre & Marks Farm)
- NatWest Braintree
- Salvation Army Donation Centre, Anglia Way
- Signs'N'Such, Chapel Hill
- The White Lion, Sible Hedingham
Your kindness means everything. Thank you for helping us bring joy to local families this Christmas
Sad news in the search for missing man, Stephen Baker.
A body has been found in the search for missing man Steven Baker.
Steven, aged 50, from Gestingthorpe in Essex, was last seen in Sudbury on Tuesday 18 November.
The body of a man was discovered on the evening of Friday 28 November in Sudbury.
The death is being treated as unexplained but there are not currently believed to any suspicious circumstances.
Formal identification procedures have not yet taken place but Steven’s family have been informed and a file will be prepared for the coroner.
 Essex Police joins forces with BT and EE to tackle misuse of artificial intelligence (AI)
Essex Police announces a new partnership with BT and EE to give simple, practical advice to young people, parents, guardians and teachers to help them avoid harmful AI-generated content online.
 Zero tolerance for drink driving
This December, Essex Police will be taking part in a national campaign to stop drink and drug driving. There will be zero tolerance for anyone caught driving under the influence. Our Roads Policing Unit officers will be carrying out targeted patrols across Essex to keep our roads safe and identify those who are suspected of breaking the law by driving above the legal limits and placing all our road users at risk of their behaviour.
 Where we've been: community engagement in action
As part of our ongoing commitment to building trust and maintaining safety across our communities, our officers regularly take part in a wide range of engagement activities. From school visits and youth clubs to market days and speed checks, these interactions are about more than just visibility—they’re about connection.
By being present in the places where people live, work, and gather, we’re able to listen to concerns, offer reassurance, and work together to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour before it starts. These engagements also give us the opportunity to strengthen relationships, especially with young people, and to show that policing is a shared effort between the community and those who serve it.
While we aim to keep the public informed about our activities, there are times when we cannot advertise certain events in advance. This is often due to operational sensitivity, safeguarding concerns, or the need to ensure the effectiveness of our patrols and interventions. Rest assured, every engagement is carried out with the community’s best interests at heart.
In this section, we’ll keep you updated on where we’ve been, what we’ve been doing
Here are some of the places we've been this week
Braintree town centre
Halstead town centre
Witham River Walk
Witham Town Hall
Braintree Shopping Village
Community Living Room, Kelvedon Cricket Club, Feering
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Tuesday 9 December 3:30pm to 4pm
Silver End Library
Wednesday 10 December 10am to 10:30am
Cressing Temple Barns, Cressing
Saturday 13 December 11am to 1pm
Unit 17, The Grove Shopping Centre, Witham
 Crime prevention advice
Leaving valuable items visible in your car can attract opportunistic thieves.
To try prevent theft, always take out or hide items such as phones, GPS devices, chargers, cash, wallets, purses, sunglasses, jackets, bags, and other valuables.
Be fraud smart
Destroy and preferably shred receipts with your card details on and post with your name and address on. Identity fraudsters don’t need much information in order to be able to clone your identity
 Visit the Essex Police website for last week's crime data. Especially useful to Essex Watch and Neighbourhood Watch groups.
 Have you got any tips for purchasing goods online and do they only apply when bought in the UK?
Buying and selling items on the internet is quick, easy and offers a wide range of choice. Here are a few simple steps to follow to ensure you stay safe whilst shopping online:
Action Fraud is the UK's national fraud reporting centre; if you come across something suspicious when shopping online or something seems too good to be true, you can report it via their website. Additionally, the UK European Consumer Centre (UKECC) provides free and impartial advice for anyone who experiences problems when purchasing goods in other European countries. Please see links to this and Action Fraud in the related information section.
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