News 11 March to 17 March
 Essex Police are keeping Vigilant to protect women and girls
The streets of Essex are even safer for women and girls thanks to an innovative new policing operation which aims to keep them safe on nights out.
The specialist patrols - codenamed Project Vigilant - have been taking place across Essex since January and use a variety of policing tactics to root out those who seek to prey on women and girls socialising and enjoying the county’s busy night-time economy.
The patrols, carried out by our Neighbourhood Policing Teams, use specialist plain clothes officers who look out for telltale signs of those behaving in a predatory way. Those officers immediately flag concerns to uniform colleagues who tackle suspect individuals and safeguard women and girls who may be otherwise be at risk from those intent on doing them harm.
Additionally, our Roads Policing Units are also supporting the patrols by stopping vehicles being driven into busy towns and cities by those who have been convicted, arrested, bailed or wanted for sexual or violent offences against women and girls.
Cash from criminals buys rural crime-fighting cameras
Our Rural Engagement Team has used money seized from criminals to buy solar-powered trail cameras which they are placing in rural crime hotspots to identify and deter crimes such as hare coursing, fly tipping and the theft of plant and machinery
An innovative crime‑reduction initiative is helping to protect some of Essex’s most vulnerable rural areas.
Our Rural Engagement Team has used money seized from criminals to buy solar-powered trail cameras which they are placing in rural crime hotspots to identify and deter crimes such as hare coursing, fly tipping and the theft of plant and machinery.
Engagement and Education at Colchester Institute
This week, officers from the Colchester City Centre Team visited Colchester Institute to deliver a series of important inputs to students as part of our continued commitment to safeguarding young people in our community.
Our officers provided a clear and practical session on the legal definition of consent and how to recognise situations where someone may be at risk or unable to give informed consent. We also spoke about the Online Safety Act, highlighting how the legislation aims to protect young people from harm across digital platforms.
Alongside the classroom input, the team conducted a knife arch deployment within the campus. This was supported by conversations with students about the realities of knife crime, why carrying weapons puts people at greater risk, and the part we can all play in keeping our community safe.
We would like to thank Colchester Institute for welcoming us and the students for their engagement, questions, and positive attitude throughout the day. Working together, we can continue to build a safer city for everyone.
Essex Police Dog Team celebrates success at Eastern Region Police Dog Trials
Essex Police is celebrating after our Dog Team’s success at this year’s Eastern Region Police Dog Trials, held at three locations in Essex between 11 and 13 March.
The three-day event brought together skilled handlers and dogs from Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, and the joint Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire forces. The trials are designed not only to test teams against challenging scenarios, but also to mirror the real operational situations our officers face every day.
On Friday 13 March, the final phase was hosted at Essex Police’s Headquarters and marked the culmination of three days of intense competition, proudly observed by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex and the High Sheriff of Essex.
 Let's talk
Saturday 21 March
10am to 11am
Franks Café, Turkey Cock Lane
Tuesday 24 March
10am to 11am
Mercury Theatre (Balkerne Gate, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PT)
Upcoming community police events
 Crime prevention advice
Secure Sliding and Patio Doors
Sliding and patio doors can sometimes be lifted off their tracks, especially older models.
An anti‑lift device or additional locking bar prevents this and adds more resistance against forced entry. These devices are inexpensive, quick to install and offer valuable extra protection for one of the home’s more vulnerable access points.
Be fraud smart
Watch Out for Vehicle Defrauding Scams
We’ve had reports of fraudsters targeting people selling their cars privately.
In some instances, fraudsters are turning up to view a vehicle and secretly pouring oil onto the engine or exhaust. During the test drive, this creates smoke to make the car appear faulty. They then push for a much lower price or in some cases try to drive off with the vehicle altogether.
Keep Yourself Safe
- Always stay with your vehicle during a viewing and test drives.
- Don’t leave the engine running while you’re not there.
- Keep your vehicle keys with you until the sale is fully agreed.
If something feels off, stop the viewing.
 Visit the Essex Police website for last week's crime data. Especially useful to Essex Watch and Neighbourhood Watch groups.
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