News 5 January to 11 January
 'Saving lives and changing lives': 56 new officers join Essex Police
"You will save lives and you will change lives" - DCC Rachel Nolan.
That was the message to 56 new officers who took their oaths today and passed out, ready to protect and serve your neighbourhood.
The new recruits passed out at Essex Police HQ in front of our Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Nolan, the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst, His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant for Essex Sidra Naeem, High Sheriff of Essex Julie Fosh and to Lieutenant Colonel Ed Rankin, Colchester Garrison Commander, and their friends and family.
 Chelmsford: 'Fatal Four' patrols in poor weather
On Thursday 8 January, officers from Essex Police’s Operational Support Group carried out proactive road safety patrols in and around Chelmsford, maintaining their commitment to keeping our roads safe - whatever the weather.
The patrols focused on the “Fatal Four” offences, which are the leading causes of serious collisions: speeding, impaired driving through alcohol or drugs, failing to wear a seatbelt, and using a mobile phone while driving. Particular attention was given to speeding and drug and drink driving, following a successful month-long campaign in December.
As part of the operation, officers positioned themselves at four key locations: Maldon Road, Beehive Lane, Chignals, and Parkway.
During the activity:
- Two drivers were arrested on suspicion of drug driving. One of these individuals was also found to have no insurance and an expired licence.
- Three vehicles were seized for having no insurance.
- 31 drivers were detected speeding, and 12 drivers were caught using mobile phones while behind the wheel.
- Only one driver was found not wearing a seatbelt, which officers welcomed as a positive sign.
 Canvey: Officers smash ‘Reggie’ drug line to disrupt cocaine supply
Dealing drugs in Essex?
It won’t just be a knock at the door.
We’ve likely spent months building a case against you – and when the time comes to get you before a court, we won’t be messing around.
In this case, officers working under Operation Falcon, our dedicated team targeting and dismantling the organised crime groups and drug dealers operating in Castle Point and Rochford, had spent years investigating those involved in the ‘Reggie’ drug line.
 Foiling the cold to keep the marine community safe
The Essex Police Marine Unit were out on patrol along the Tendring Coastline this weekend. Saturday saw them patrolling in the police launch ‘Toby Speller’ around Clacton Pier, Walton and Frinton, before calling in at Brightlingsea to catch up with the Harbour Master team and some of the local businesses. The officers also conducted routine checks on vessels passing through our waters.
On Sunday the officers were up to Harwich in the Police RHIB ‘Sentinel’ patrolling around the harbour and checking in with the local National Coastwatch Institute. They also stopped to check on the welfare of some wing-foilers who were braving the cold seas off Frinton.
 'Expert and thorough' CCTV work helps convict dangerous rapist
Kyle Pauley, 24, was sentenced to an extended 19-year term at Basildon Crown Court after admitting two counts of rape, wounding with intent and possession of a knife. The attack occurred on 22 September in Benfleet, where Pauley followed a woman, threatened her with a knife, and raped her in a nearby field before stabbing her in the stomach. Despite the serious injury, the victim survived and managed to call for help. Pauley fled but was arrested within an hour thanks to the victim’s description and rapid police response.
The investigation by the Serious Crime Directorate gathered overwhelming evidence, including CCTV footage, DNA, and GPS data from Pauley’s monitoring tag, which placed him at the scene. Officers also recovered the knife and the victim’s glasses.
Pauley, who had recently been released from prison for drug offences, pleaded guilty on 24 October and was deemed a dangerous offender. Judge Samantha Cohen praised the expert CCTV analysis and sentenced Pauley to 12 years in prison plus seven years on licence.
 Drink and drug drive arrest figures released for Operation Limit
Essex Police has released the results of its December 2025 road safety campaign, Operation Limit, which targeted drink and drug drivers across the county. The figures reveal a concerning trend and underline the force’s commitment to tackling impaired driving.
In total, the operation netted 511 drink and drug drive related offences in one month.
The force’s specialist Roads Policing Unit led the campaign, conducting five dedicated days of action at targeted sites alongside daily patrols, resulting in 103 drink driving arrests which takes our 2025 annual figure to 1,008.
Alarmingly, 307 arrests were made for drug driving in December 2025, the highest number of arrests since January 2017 and takes the annual figure to 1,874 arrests.
Additionally, last year there were an extra 936 other drivers arrested because they were either unfit to drive or failed to provide a specimen for analysis, of which 101 were arrested as part of last month’s Operation Limit.
 Crimestoppers offers £10,000 reward in hunt for Ceyhan Dinler
Essex Police and the charity Crimestoppers have partnered up in a push to locate Ceyhan Dinler, who is wanted in connection with the murder of Cumali Turhan.
Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £10,000 to find Ceyhan Dinler, who was last seen at Stansted Airport on 19 November 2024 - the day Cumali disappeared.
The night before, Cumali had met Ceyhan Dinler for a drink in The Globe pub, before they walked to Barista Bar on Duke Street, Chelmsford. Cumali never made it out alive, and Essex Police later learned his body had been put in a bin.
A second man, Ciprian Ilie, 44, was jailed for seven years in October for assisting an offender (murder) and preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body. Essex Police are now trying to locate Ceyhan Dinler.
The appeal launches following the transmission of Channel 4 programme Catching a Killer: Buried Truths, which documented Essex Police’s exhaustive investigation and search for Cumali.
They searched an Essex landfill site for 47 days in their efforts to find the 45-year-old father.
Crimestoppers, which is independent of the police, is supporting this investigation by offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information the charity exclusively receives - either through the Crimestoppers website or by calling 0800 555 111 at any time - that leads to the arrest of Ceyhan Dinler.
The reward is available for three months and is due to expire on 6 April 2026.
Information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously. The charity is independent of the police and guarantees complete anonymity to everyone who contacts them.
 Chief Inspector Stuart Austin (District Commander for Tendring); Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst; Essex Police's' Head of Estates Patrick Duffy
Dovercourt: Progress made on new police station
Building work on the new Dovercourt police station has progressed since construction began in July.
Tendring District Commander Stuart Austin, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst and the building contractors Pentaco visited the site to mark the completion of the first milestone in the project – the completion of the timber frame.
The construction team will now move on to the next stages which include finalising the roof, installation of windows and doors and internal works.
Work is expected to be completed in the summer, with the station due to open shortly after. The plans for Dovercourt police station were approved in October 2023 and is the first new police building to be constructed in Essex in 17 years. It will provide modern, purpose-built facilities for officers and staff serving the local community.
The station will be an operational policing base for officers and staff with no public front counter.
 Stock: Dangerous driver admits causing teenager's death
Stephen Mahebadevan, 26, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury by dangerous driving after a collision in Stock Road, Stock, on 3 November 2023.
He was driving his Suzuki Swift at more than twice the 30mph speed limit when he lost control negotiating a bend, mounted the footpath, and struck two teenage boys walking to school. Freddie Coleman, 15, was thrown into the path of an oncoming van and tragically died at the scene, while the second boy sustained life-changing injuries.
A detailed investigation involving CCTV, dash cam footage, forensic analysis, and witness statements revealed Mahebadevan’s excessive speed as the primary cause of the crash. He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on 5 January and pleaded guilty to both charges. Sentencing is scheduled for 6 February at the same court.
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 appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 5 January.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Monday 12 January
10am to 12pm
Epping Market, High Street, Epping
10:30am to 12pm
The Orchards Cafe, Mascalls Way, Great Baddow CM2 7NS
11am to 12pm
Morrisons, Northwick Road, Canvey Island
11am to 12pm
Writtle Library, 45 The Green, Writtle, Chelmsford
Tuesday 13 January
10:30am to 11:30am
Corringham Library, St Johns Way
3pm to 4pm
Outside Knightswick Centre, Furtherwick Road, Canvey Island
Wednesday 14 January
9am to 10am
Chelmsford Park Run, Central Park, CM2 0FQ
10am to 11am
Wimpole Road Church, 49 Wimpole Road, Colchester, Essex, CO1 2DN
10am to 2pm
Safe to go Stow Hub, 28 The Stow, Harlow
10am to 11am
Northlands Pavement, Pitsea, Basildon
10:30am to 11:30am
Chelmsford Library, Chelmsford County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford CM1 1QH
Thursday 15 January
8am to 10am
Priory Street Church
10am to 11am
Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea, Basildon
3pm to 4pm
Outside the library, London Road, South Benfleet
Friday 16 January
1:30pm to 2:30pm
The Pyramid Centre, Heath Road, Chadwell St Mary
3pm to 4pm
Bulphan Village Hall, Church Road
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
 Crime prevention advice
Keep your shed secure and your tools locked up
Sheds can be easy targets. Make sure yours is locked and secure.
Use a quality certified padlock and consider reinforcing the door.
Never leave tools lying around; they can be used as a way of breaking into your home.
Be fraud smart
With so many offers and bargains popping up online, it can be tricky to tell a genuine site from a fake one. Our top tips to help you shop safely:
- If you see an ad but aren’t sure the site is real, don’t click the link. Instead, search for the organisation yourself and check the results.
- Use a credit card or a secure payment method when making purchases – they often provide extra protection.
- Check out as a guest where possible to reduce the amount of personal data you need to supply
 Join our team
Police staff jobs
Head of Fleet £77,346 to £87,213
Senior Software Developer £45,765 to £49,765
Contact Centre Officers £27,204 to £29,859
Detention Officers £32,644 to £35,830
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
 This week we remember
 Gary John Veal
Gary joined Essex Police in 1990 and subsequently worked at Colchester, Mersea and Tiptree. In 1999 he transferred to the Road Policing Unit, serving at both Chelmsford and Stanway.
During the evening of January 12, 2002 Police Constable Gary John Veal was struck by a car while assisting at the scene of a broken-down vehicle on the A12 Colchester by-pass. He was taken to Colchester General Hospital, suffering from head and internal injuries, and subsequently died the following day.
William Martin
William enlisted with the Scots Guards after leaving school and on completion of his military service he joined Essex Constabulary on April 1, 1914. He barely completed four months’ service as a police officer when he was recalled to the Colours on August 4, 1914, and rejoined his colleagues in 1st Battalion Scots Guards as Lance Corporal 7894.
On January 10, 1917, whilst billeted at Maurepas, they took over the line just beyond the Peronne -Bapaume road. Whilst there was little action in terms of advances by either side, the artillery continued with harassing fire and it is probable that William Martin, who died on January 14, 1917, was fatally wounded during such an attack.
Lawrence Charles Hartman
Lawrence served in the army from 12th October 1932 to 18th July 1938, and joined Essex County Constabulary on 26th September 1938. After Headquarters’ training Lawrence was posted to Clacton from 3rd December 1938. He saw just under a year’s service before being recalled to the army on 1st December 1939.
He is believed to have subsequently transferred to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, where he served as Flight Sergeant (Air Gunner) 657578 with 7 Squadron.
On Friday, 14th January 1944 he was the rear gunner in the seven man crew of a Lancaster Mk. III aircraft, number JA935, which departed from R.A.F. Oakington at 4.59 p.m. The Lancaster, which is thought to have been participating on an air raid, came down in Germany with the loss of all seven crew.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
 Obituaries
John Gardiner
The Chief Constable regrets to inform you of the sad death of our former colleague John Gardiner who retired as a Sergeant in 1992 and served at Wickford, & Laindon Traffic. He passed away on the 27th December 2025 aged 84 years.
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