News 1 April to 7 April
Patrols in Clacton have led to arrests and court action following thefts from vehicles and burglaries. Local policing teams recovered stolen property and returned it to victims, with three offenders already sentenced and further cases ongoing.
In one case, a man was arrested while trying to sell tools stolen from a van and later given a community order. In another, two men were arrested over burglaries at a Clacton business, with one jailed for four months and another due to appear in court in May.
 PCSO Stevie Gears Up for the London Marathon
Police Community Support Officer Stevie from the Clacton Neighbourhood Policing Team completed the Colchester Half Marathon on Sunday 8 March as part of her preparation for the London Marathon on 26 April.
She’s been putting in an incredible amount of hard work, often training early in the mornings before her shifts and squeezing in extra miles on her days off.
Her dedication and determination has not gone unnoticed.
As the big day gets closer, we want to wish her the very best of luck - we’re all cheering her on!
We’re making new CCTV footage available as part of our search for missing woman Vitoria Barreto and are asking as many people as possible to share it. The two new clips extend where we now know Vitoria was last seen.
One shows a person we believe to be Vitoria walking in a field south of Hurst Green, between Back Waterside Lane and Mill Street, at 3.33pm on 3 March, around an hour after she was last seen in Hurst Green.
We have also found further CCTV showing the 30-year-old walking through an industrial site off Copperas Road in Brightlingsea at 12.16am on 4 March, closer to Brightlingsea Creek and the marina.
This means our last confirmed sighting of Vitoria is now at 12.22am on 4 March.
We’re continuing detailed work to better understand Vitoria’s movements, including enquiries linked to a boat that was later found adrift at Bradwell-on-Sea, and are working with international partners to access her communication and financial data.
We’re urging anyone who may have seen Vitoria walking in the field near Back Waterside Lane and Mill Street on the afternoon of 3 March, or who has seen her since the early hours of 4 March, to please contact us.
 Inviting the public to review our work
Policing is challenging, and our officers make important decisions every day to protect the public and prevent crime, often in difficult and emotional situations. That is why clear codes of ethics and professional standards are in place, and why officers are expected to act with integrity at all times, whether on or off duty.
We police by consent, so being open and honest with our communities is essential.
Since 2016, we have invited members of the public to join Independent Advisory Groups in each district.
These groups help us by reviewing our work, including body‑worn video, stop and search records and custody processes, and by giving honest feedback on policing practice and community concerns.
Over three days between 24 and 26 March, we carried out a targeted operation to tackle cloned vehicles, dangerous driving and criminals using Essex’s roads.
In total, 153 vehicles were stopped, leading to 10 arrests and 21 vehicles being seized for a range of offences including cloned plates, stolen vehicles, uninsured and disqualified driving.
Officers uncovered several vehicles being deliberately used to avoid detection, including drivers who were already banned from driving, cars linked to burglaries, and vehicles fitted with false number plates.
Tackling cloned and illegal vehicles is vital to keeping people safe and disrupting wider criminal activity, as these vehicles are often used to commit serious offences and put law‑abiding road users at risk.
⚽ Essex Community Goals Charity Football Tournament 2026
Join us for this year’s Essex Community Goals charity football tournament!
We’re inviting young people aged 12–13 who don’t often get the chance to play football as part of a team to take part in an exciting, friendly tournament focused on fun, confidence and teamwork.
📅 Event Details
-
Date: Saturday 20 June 2026
-
Venue: Essex Police College, St Margaret’s Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6DT
-
Teams: 7‑a‑side (maximum 10 players per team)
-
Format: Open to single‑gender and mixed‑gender teams
-
Entry fee: £25 per team
📝 Registration Information
-
Registration closes: Friday 13 June 2026
- All teams must have an adult (18+) team manager who agrees to take responsibility for the team on the day.
This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get active, build confidence and be part of a positive community event, all while supporting a great cause.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Thursday 9 April 10am to 11am
CVST Harwich Hub, 276 High Street, Dovercourt, CO12 3PD.
Friday 10 April 10am to 11am
Morrisons Supermarket, Centenary way, Little Clacton, CO16 9SB.
Friday 10 April 10am to 11am
The Council Offices, Victoria Place, Brightlingsea, CO7 0BP.
Saturday 11 April 10am to 11am
Lidl Supermarket, A133, Clacton on Sea, CO16 9FY.
Sunday 12 April 10am to 11am
Asda Supermarket, Bull Hill Road, Clacton on Sea, CO15 4AU.
Monday 13 April 10am to 12pm
Oasis Café, Frinton free church, Connaught Avenue, Frinton on Sea, CO13 9DB.
Monday 13 April 10am to 11am
McDonalds, Pier Avenue, Clacton on Sea, CO15 1QN.
Tuesday 14 April 3pm to 4pm
Sainsbury’s Supermarket, Samson’s Road, Brightlingsea, CO7 0RN.
 Crime prevention advice
Keep Sheds and Garages Locked.
It’s easy to leave the shed or garage door open while gardening or popping indoors for a moment, but this can give thieves exactly the chance they’re looking for.
An unlocked outbuilding can be accessed in seconds, and items like bikes, tools and equipment are common targets.
Even if you’re only stepping away briefly, close and lock the door. Treat your shed or garage the same way you would your front door: if you’re not right there, keep it locked.
Be fraud smart
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Very low prices, especially for popular or in demand items, are often used to trick people into scams.
Take a moment to pause before you buy. Compare prices on other websites and check reviews carefully.
For more ways to spot a scam online and keep yourself safe, visit our website.
 Visit the Essex Police website for last week's crime data. Especially useful to Essex Watch and Neighbourhood Watch groups.
|
