News 29 April to 5 May
Chief Constable BJ Harrington has shared that he will be retiring from Essex Police after 36 years in policing. He joined the police in 1990 with the Metropolitan Police and came to Essex Police in 2017 as Deputy Chief Constable. He became Chief Constable in 2018 and has led the force for eight years.
He said it has been an honour to lead Essex Police and described the force as his life and family. He thanked officers, staff, volunteers, partners and the people of Essex for their support.
During his time as Chief Constable, crime in Essex has continued to fall. In the last year up to 31 March, there were 1,314 fewer crimes and 3,164 more crimes were solved, which is a rise of 15 per cent. More progress has also been made in solving serious crimes such as rape, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, burglary, vehicle theft and shoplifting.
Alongside his work in Essex, he has also held senior leadership roles in national policing. Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst will announce the process to find a new Chief Constable in due course.
One of our neighbourhood police officers has been recognised for helping to keep Colchester’s businesses safe from crime.
PC Carly Mond has worked closely with local shops to tackle shoplifting. She set up regular meetings so stores can share information and focused efforts on the shops most affected by theft.
Carly also helped improve a radio system used by shops at Stane Retail Park so they can quickly alert each other and the police. She also helped set up a scheme to spot shops that buy and sell stolen goods.
As part of this, some items are marked with special UV pens. This helps police identify where stolen items came from if they are recovered.
Carly’s work has now been recognised by The Colchester Association for the Protection of Property, known as The Thieves. At their annual dinner, Carly said the police and The Thieves work closely together and share the same aim of protecting local businesses.
We joined seven other police forces in a three‑day operation to stop people using roads to carry out serious crime across county borders.
The work operation took place from 22 to 24 April and led to 85 arrests and 85 vehicles being taken off the road across eight force areas. Officers from Essex worked alongside teams from the Met, Surrey, Thames Valley, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Sussex and Hampshire, with help from police dogs and the police helicopter service.
In Essex, 15 people were arrested for offences including driving after taking drugs, stealing cars, and having strong illegal drugs to sell. Around a quarter of all vehicles seized were in Essex. Almost £11,000 in cash linked to crime was seized overall, with more than £5,000 taken in Essex under laws that allow police to take money linked to crime. An Essex roads policing inspector said the operation shows our commitment to stopping organised crime and keeping people safe by working with other forces.
Since the operation began, it has led to more than 2,700 arrests, over 1,200 vehicles seized, more than 300 weapons recovered and over £545,000 in cash taken.
It has been more than 60 days since Vitoria Barreto was reported missing and our focus remains on finding her.
Officers have carried out extensive searches since 4 March, using CCTV, information from the public and specialist support, covering land and coastline.
One line of enquiry is whether Vitoria took a boat from Brightlingsea, later found drifting near Bradwell. While this cannot yet be confirmed, the Bradwell area has been thoroughly searched.
We are asking residents in Bradwell and Brightlingsea to check sheds, garages and outbuildings where someone may have taken shelter.
International and digital enquiries are ongoing. Bank activity shows normal use up to 3 March, with later payments linked to pre‑planned subscriptions.
Anyone with information is asked to come forward.
Our officers stopped a dangerously overloaded car after it left a car boot sale, to highlight the risks of a vehicle carrying too much weight.
The vehicle had items stacked very high on the roof, including a large pink unicorn, which caught attention but showed a serious safety problem. Carrying too much weight can make a car harder to steer, slower to stop and more likely to lose control, with a risk of items falling into the road. We found that none of the roof items were secured.
The car’s MOT had run out months earlier, a headlight was taped on, the front bumper was held with a bungee cord, the front number plate was missing, only one brake light worked and the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.
Our road policing officers are reminding drivers to check weight limits, spread and secure loads properly, avoid stacking too high and make more than one trip if needed. Stopping unsafe vehicles is about keeping everyone safe on the road.
We are warning people that climbing on roofs or going into abandoned buildings is far more dangerous than it may look.
We have heard about a number of people being seen on rooftops without anyone reporting to us. If someone is on a roof or in another risky place, we treat it as an emergency because even a small slip or unstable surface can lead to serious injury or death. Our main focus is keeping people safe and preventing harm.
We are urging anyone who sees someone in this kind of danger to call 999 straight away. Please do not wait or assume someone else has already called, as acting quickly could save a life. People who climb on roofs or explore empty buildings also risk damaging property or going onto private land without permission. Anyone tempted to do this is advised to look at safer options, such as joining a local parkour club.
Our marine officers have been working along the coastline to help keep people safe over the bank holiday weekend.
Officers spoke to people using personal watercraft, such as jet skis, and others visiting the coast, offering advice on water safety and local byelaws. Visits took place at several coastal locations including Clacton, Mersea Island, Southend and areas along the Rivers Colne and Blackwater.
Our focus is on education so people can enjoy the coast safely, but action will be taken if behaviour puts others at risk. These patrols are part of ongoing spring and summer work to reduce antisocial behaviour on and near the water.
Officers are reminding visitors to plan ahead, follow local rules, wear safety gear and check the weather and tides before heading out.
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Let’s Talk events are informal drop‑in sessions where you can chat with local police officers about what matters to you. Whether it's neighbourhood concerns, local priorities or questions about policing in your area.
There’s no need to book and no pressure to stay, you can just stop by for a quick conversation.
To find a Let’s Talk event happening near you, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
 Crime prevention advice
Sheds and garages often store valuable items like bikes and tools. These can be easy targets for thieves.
- Always lock your shed or garage with a strong lock
- Mark tools and bikes with your postcode and take photos
- Anchor valuable items to a wall or floor
- Use sensor lights and keep gardens well lit
- Lock gates and store ladders and bins away
Small steps can help protect your property and reduce the risk of theft.
Be fraud smart
Enabling 2‑step verification (also called 2SV) helps keep criminals out of your accounts, even if they manage to guess or steal your password.
It works by asking for a second check when you sign in, such as a code sent to your phone or an approval in an app. This means that even if someone has your password, they still can’t get in without that extra step.
It only takes a few minutes to set up, but it adds a strong extra layer of protection to your email, social media and online shopping accounts.
Turning on 2‑step verification is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself online and reduce the risk of fraud.
 Visit the Essex Police website for last week's crime data. Especially useful to Essex Watch and Neighbourhood Watch groups.
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