News 24 December to 6 January
 Happy New Year
As 2025 comes to a close, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone in Braintree District for your support and partnership.
This year, crime is down across the board:
22% fewer house burglaries
37% fewer thefts from cars
26% fewer stolen vehicles
27% fewer shoplifting reports
27% fewer shed and outbuilding break-ins
13% fewer violent crimes
And with 1,115 arrests and 471 domestic abuse perpetrators brought to justice, we’re proud of what we’ve achieved together.
Your vigilance and cooperation make all the difference. As we move into 2026, we encourage everyone to stay vigilant and help us keep our community safe. If you see anything suspicious or have information about crime in our district, please use our reporting services or contact Crimestoppers anonymously. Your input helps us stay informed and take action where it matters most.
Here’s to an even safer and stronger 2026!
 Spreading Christmas Cheer at Broomfield Hospital
Over the festive period, two of our local officers, PC Pryce and PC Townley, brought smiles to the children at Broomfield Hospital. They visited the Phoenix Ward, Burns Ward, and Emergency Medical Treatment (EMT) unit, taking time to meet young patients and their families.
Armed with stickers and colouring books, the officers helped brighten the day for children spending Christmas in hospital. The visit was full of laughter and excitement, with many children getting the chance to try on police uniform—a highlight that sparked plenty of smiles and curiosity!
We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the hardworking hospital staff on all the wards. Their dedication and care make an incredible difference every day, and especially during the festive season.
These visits are a wonderful reminder of the strong connection between our police and the community, and the importance of working together to bring comfort and joy when it’s needed most.
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Weekend Operation Sees 14 Arrests and 26 Vehicles Seized Across Essex
Officers carried out checks on delivery drivers across Essex at the weekend to make sure they are working safely and within the law.
Across Basildon, Braintree, Clacton, Colchester and Southend, 180 vehicles were stopped over the two days.
Officers made 14 arrests, including seven on suspicion of drug driving, five for breaching immigration rules and two for possession with intent to supply ketamine. Another 35 people were reported for driving offences, and 26 vehicles were seized because they weren’t insured or the driver didn’t have the correct licence. One vehicle was prohibited from the road due to serious safety defects.
These operations are an important part of our work to safeguard vulnerable people and prevent tragedies on Essex roads.
More checks are planned in the coming weeks, with local policing teams joining colleagues from our Roads Policing Unit and Operational Support Group plus colleagues from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime Unit (ERSOU MSOICU) and the Home Office’s immigration service.
If you suspect someone is unfit to drive through drink or drugs, please contact us via Live Chat on our website.
Coggeshall: Appeal after fatal A120 collision
Our investigation into the death of a man on the A120 at Coggeshall early on Saturday 3 January is continuing today, and we can confirm a man has been arrested.
The man, aged in his 40s and from the Colchester area, was questioned on suspicion of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs and failing to stop after a road accident.
He has been released under investigation whilst the investigation progresses.
We’re continuing to build a picture of the complex circumstances around the man’s death on the A120 on Saturday, and this may take some time.
The man’s family are aware of how the investigation is progressing and we’re in regular contact with them.
We would continue to urge anyone who was driving on the A120 between Bradwell, Coggeshall and Colchester between 6.30am and 7.10am on Saturday morning and saw a man who appeared vulnerable with grey hair and dark clothing walking alone on the A120 towards Colchester.
We would also like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed or may have dashcam footage of a white van being set alight in a layby on the westbound carriageway of the A120, close to Bradwell, at Watery Lane or an individual accessing the vehicle.
Braintree: Man charged after Market Place incident
A man has been charged as part of an investigation into a serious assault in Market Place, Braintree in the early hours of Sunday 23 November 2025. The victim, a man, sustained a serious head injury. He is continuing to recover from the incident.
We had appealed for information on a man who we’d identified as part our investigation. On Friday 2 January, a Kent man was arrested on suspicion of GBH. We can now confirm that Richard Mason, 41, of Summer Leeze, Ashford, has been charged with GBH with intent. He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 5 January. Enquiries are ongoing to locate a second suspect in the investigation.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Thursday 8 January 10.30 to 11.30
Witham Town Hall
Saturday 10 January 3pm to 4pm
Hatfield Peverel Library
Sunday 11 January 10am to 11am
Broadway, Silver End
Sunday 11 January 11.15am to 11.45am
Village Hall, Rivenhall
Sunday 11 January 1.15pm to 2.15pm
Cressing Village Hall
 Crime prevention advice
Keep your car and belongings safe by hiding valuables out of sight and double-check that your car is locked.
Park in well-lit areas and consider investing in additional vehicle security measures like a steering wheel lock.
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.
 Are vehicles such as electric scooters, quads, go-peds, mini-motos, hoverboards and Segways legal to use on the road/pavement?
Electric scooters, quads, go-peds, mini-motos, hoverboards and Segways
In legal terms, these are all examples of vehicles that may be considered motor vehicles and are therefore subject to all the usual legal requirements that apply to other motor vehicles such as cars or motorcycles.
Therefore, they cannot be used on the road unless they are taxed (if required), registered, have an MOT (if required), are insured and the driver has a valid driving licence for the category of vehicle. If any of these requirements are not met, the vehicle can't legally be driven/ridden on the road.
In reality, many of these types of vehicle will never be 'road legal' because their design fails to meet road-vehicle safety standards. Note also that it's an offence to use such vehicles on the pavement too. They cannot be used on council land e.g., parks, unless there is a designated area specifically for them. In some areas, there may be commercially operated parks where they can be used.
They can only legally be used on private land/property with the permission of the land/property owner. However, note that it's against the law for a child under 13 to drive/ride on a tractor or self-propelled vehicle e.g. a quad, when it's being used in agricultural operations.
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