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.
Officers in Uttlesford are asking the public to report hare coursing so they can take action where it is happening.
We have seen a rise in hare coursing and related crime across the district during 2025, following a national increase, even though overall reports have fallen since 2018.
Reporting is vital so they know which areas are being affected and can focus patrols at the right times.
Neighbourhood policing officers and the Rural Engagement Team are working closely with farmers, landowners and partner organisations ahead of the new hare coursing season. We are offering advice, listening to concerns and explaining what details people should share if they see hare coursing.
We are using a range of specialist tools to tackle the problem, including police helicopters, drones, mobile number plate recognition cameras and extra 4x4 vehicles.
Trail cameras are also being used in rural areas to help deter crime, identify offenders and support victims.
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.
 Great Dunmow Market
Officers visited the first Great Dunmow Market of the year on Sunday 3 May and had lots of positive chats with local businesses and local people.
It was great to speak with traders, catch up with residents, and see the market so busy.
Thank you to everyone who stopped to say hello.
 Ismaeel Malik
A man has been sent to prison after a fatal crash on the A12 near Kelvedon caused by using social media while driving.
Ismaeel Malik, 22, was driving a black Mercedes on 22 October 2024 when he hit the back of a stationary Volkswagen Polo at speed while traffic was stopped. Phone checks showed he had been watching videos on TikTok for much of his journey, with the app playing when the crash happened. The driver of the Polo, 58‑year‑old Norman Case, died at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services.
Malik admitted causing death by dangerous driving at Chelmsford Crown Court and was sentenced on 29 April 2026 to eight years in prison. He was also banned from driving for ten years and four months.
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 carried out vehicle safety checks near Stansted Airport on Thremhall Avenue on 29 April to help keep people safe on the roads.
During the checks, we stopped 50 vehicles, mainly taxis and private hire vehicles, and also other drivers where we spotted possible problems. Two cars were taken off the road because they were not insured, and 28 drivers were reported for breaking road rules such as having no insurance, not wearing seatbelts and using illegal number plates known as ghost plates. We worked with our roads policing teams, our Commercial Vehicle Unit, the DVLA, and council licensing staff from several areas to make sure drivers were properly licensed and fit to drive.
Most drivers were driving safely, but these checks help us deal with the small number who put others at risk, and we will carry out more of them in the future to help keep everyone travelling to and from the airport safe.
 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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