News 28 January to 3 February
 Personal Watercraft Rider Fined for High‑Speed Offence at Point Clear Bay
A man has been fined for riding a personal watercraft at almost four times the speed limit and endangering other water-users.
Aaron Prainer, 36, was spotted by officers from our Marine Unit during one of their regular Operation Wave-Breaker coastal patrols on 10 August 2025.
He was travelling at 30 knots in the 8‑knot speed‑restricted area of Point Clear Bay, St Osyth, Colchester magistrates heard.
The personal watercraft, or PWC, was producing significant wash and was seen to be accelerating hard while still inside the restricted area, the court was told.
 £76,000 Seized in Clacton Drug Supply Case
Financial investigators have ensured a drug dealer criminal gains of more than £76,000 confiscated.
Franky Brown, 28, formerly of Langham Drive, Clacton, was previously jailed for five-and-a-half years for supplying cocaine and possessing criminal property.
His assets were seized at the same time and now, following a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, £76,247.17 has been confiscated by court order.
These confiscation orders allow officers to reclaim as much as possible from offenders to fund further work by the Home Office and Essex Police to tackle these offences, as well as supporting charitable causes through the Essex Community Foundation.
In March 2025, officers saw Brown leaving a house in North Road in the town with a heavy parcel and get into a taxi. We followed the taxi and directed it to pull over. In a panic Brown ran away, throwing a kilo of Class A drugs over a low garden wall in the moments before officers caught him in a foot chase.
Further searches found more drugs and £15,000 in cash at addresses linked to Brown. He pleaded guilty to his charges and was jailed on 5 September 2025.
Alongside the criminal investigation, our Serious Economic Crime Unit set out to prove exactly what assets Brown had available. In total, we estimated Brown had benefitted from more than £120,000 through his offending and he had assets worth £76k available for confiscation.
Our Rural Engagement Team (RET) regularly undertakes proactive patrols and enforcement to keep rural areas and road users safe.
One vehicle stopped by RET officers was a BMW travelling along the A133 at Weeley just after midday on Thursday 4 December 2025. Checks confirmed that the driver was not the holder of a valid driving licence and had no insurance.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of drug‑driving. However, upon arrival at custody, he refused to provide a specimen for analysis and was subsequently charged.
David Bartholomew, of Marine Parade East, Clacton‑on‑Sea, appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 27 January, where he pleaded guilty to three offences: driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance, and failing to comply with the requirement to provide a specimen following a positive roadside drug test.
At the hearing, the 42‑year‑old was handed a 36‑month driving ban and ordered to pay costs.
Failing to provide a specimen is a serious offence. These requirements exist to safeguard all road users, and refusing to comply carries significant legal consequences.
 Fraud and Scam Prevention Visit to Holland‑on‑Sea Men’s Club
On Thursday 29 January, Tammy, our Fraud and Scam Prevention Officer, attended the Holland‑on‑Sea Public Halls to speak with the Holland on Sea Men’s Club.
She delivered an informative and engaging session on fraud awareness and how to keep our community safe. The group was lively, interactive, and keen to learn.
A positive visit with great engagement from everyone who attended.
If you know a group that you feel would benefit from a visit, please email Tammy at: 42079913@essex.police.uk
 Provisional Driver Reported After Stop at Horsley Cross
On Thursday 29 January, officers from the Rural Engagement Team stopped a vehicle at Horsley Cross, en route to Manningtree.
Checks quickly revealed that the driver only held a provisional licence, had no valid insurance as he was unsupervised, and was using the vehicle to travel to work.
The vehicle was seized and the driver has been reported.
 Abandoned Bike Linked to Fail‑to‑Stop Seized by Police
On Sunday 1 February, officers seized this bike after it was reported abandoned by a member of the public.
The previous day, the same bike had failed to stop for officers while being ridden two-up, with no registration plate, by two males wearing balaclavas.
Following the report, officers from the Clacton Town Team located the vehicle, and it has now been seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act.
Enquiries are ongoing to establish the identity of the vehicle and those involved.
Weekend Patrols in Holland‑on‑Sea Garden Areas
Officers carried out targeted patrols across the Albany, Connaught and Lancaster garden areas of Clacton following reports from residents regarding antisocial and suspicious activity.
Information received indicated that young people had been inhaling nitrous oxide (laughing gas) within the gardens. We also received concerns about vehicles parking in nearby roads, believed to be linked to drug dealing and drug use.
High‑visibility patrols were conducted throughout the weekend to reassure the community, deter antisocial behaviour and gather intelligence. All information obtained has been documented and will support ongoing problem‑solving work in the area.
We continue to encourage residents to report any further suspicious or concerning activity so that we can respond promptly and effectively.
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 Suspicious Motorbike Report Leads to Recovery of Two Vehicles
On Monday 2 January, officers from the Clacton Neighbourhood Policing Team responded to a call from a concerned resident who reported a suspicious motorbike left in their neighbourhood.
Upon the attending PCSO’s arrival, two motorbikes were located and recovered for further enquiries. Thanks to the resident’s quick action and our team’s swift response, both vehicles have been safely removed from the area while we work to identify their owners.
We encourage residents to continue reporting anything that seems unusual. Your information plays a vital role in helping us keep our communities safe.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Friday 6 February 10am to 11am
Lidl Supermarket, A133, Clacton on Sea, CO16 9FY.
Friday 6 February 10am to 11am
Jaywick Community & Resource Centre, Brooklands Gardens, Jaywick, CO15 2JP.
Friday 6 February 10am to 11am
Walton Food Bank, Standley Road, Walton on Naze, CO14 8PT.
Saturday 7 February 10am to 11am
Jaywick Library, Golf Green Road, Jaywick, Essex, CO15 2RH.
Saturday 7 February 10am to 11am
Morrisons Supermarket, Centenary way, Little Clacton, CO16 9SB.
Sunday 8 February 10am to 11am
Asda Supermarket, Bull Hill Road, Clacton on Sea, CO15 4AU.
Monday 9 February 10am to 11am
Morrisons Supermarket, Waterglade Retail Park, Old Road, Clacton on Sea, CO15 1HX.
Monday 9 February 3pm to 4pm
Sainsbury’s Supermarket, Samson’s Road, Brightlingsea, CO7 0RN.
Monday 9 February 10am to 12pm
Walton Forum i/c Peabody Services, High Street, Walton on the Naze CO14 8AG.
Tuesday 10 February 10am to 12pm
Oasis café, Frinton free church, Connaught Avenue, Frinton on Sea, CO13 9BB.
Wednesday 11 February 10am to 12pm
Scam & Rogue Trader Awareness with Suffolk Trading Standards, Manningtree Library, High St, Manningtree CO11 1AD.
 Crime prevention advice
Window Security
Burglars often target windows because they can offer easier access than doors. Take a moment to look at your home from the outside and identify anything that might help someone reach a window. This could include walls, bins, garden furniture, or other items that can be climbed on. Where possible, remove or reposition these access points.
For windows on the ground floor or anywhere within easy reach, consider the following tips:
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Use laminated glass or security film on ground‑floor and accessible windows to make them harder to break.
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Install sash stops to prevent sash windows from being opened wide enough for someone to climb through.
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Fit key‑operated locks on windows that open outward rather than upward. These are especially important for any ground‑floor or easily accessible windows. Remember: locks only work if you use them—so double‑check they’re secure before leaving home or going to bed.
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Use window opening restrictors if you want ventilation while maintaining security. Ensure they cannot be picked or unlocked from outside.
Be fraud smart
Online Shopping Safety
Shopping online is convenient and offers access to goods from all over the world. However, while most buyers and sellers are genuine, fraudsters also take advantage of online platforms because they can hide their identity and target many victims at once.
Here are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself when buying online:
Do your research
Before purchasing, check what a fair or competitive price is for similar items in the same condition. If an offer looks too good to be true, it may be fake, poor quality, or may not exist at all.
Check the images
Fraudsters often use stock photos, stolen images, or the same pictures across multiple adverts. You can check if an image appears elsewhere online using services like TinEye or reverse.photos.
Review the seller’s history
Look at the seller or buyer’s feedback and review history. Be cautious of accounts created very recently with large amounts of overly positive or similar‑sounding feedback—this can indicate fake reviews.
 Visit the Essex Police website for last week's crime data. Especially useful to Essex Watch and Neighbourhood Watch groups.
 Question
Do I have to wait 24 hours before I can report a person missing?
Answer
There is no rule that states you must wait 24 hours to report a missing person. It depends on the person who is missing, their age, mental state and vulnerability.
If the missing person is a child, elderly or a person in vulnerable state, you need to alert the police straight away.
If the person is late home or late for an appointment, then it is sensible to try and contact the person or the last place they were, then wait a reasonable amount of time prior to contacting the police.
For more information please see below and the websites in Related Information.
Missing People is the UK's only charity dedicated to finding missing people, it supports the work of police, Social Services and works in partnership with other agencies.
Missing People - for sightings and to report someone missing:
Runaway Helpline - for young people under 18, to call who are away from home or care:
Message Home - for missing adults, allowing them to pass a message home:
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