News 4 May to 10 May
 Hotspot patrols result in 353 arrests and cut violence
Targeted patrols of 15 hotspots in towns and cities across Essex led to 353 arrests, a 13% reduction in anti-social behaviour (ASB) and an 11% reduction in serious violence over the past year.
Officers carried out more than 25,000 hours of high-visibility patrols across Southend, Colchester, Chelmsford, Basildon, Harlow, Clacton, Braintree, Grays and Brentwood as part of Operation Guardian.
Data analysis was used to identify areas at the highest risk of violence or ASB, with officers carrying out short, targeted foot patrols to disrupt offending and engage with the public.
Across the 12 months of patrols, officers carried out 785 stop-searches, seized 19 weapons, took enforcement action following Public Space Protection Order breaches on 551 occasions, and issued 57 community resolutions.
Arrests were made for offences including causing actual bodily harm, sexual assault, possession of drugs, theft, robbery and burglary.
 Witham: Attempted murder investigation
A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder as part of our investigation into an incident during which a woman sustained very serious injuries.
We were alerted to the incident, in Goda Close, Witham, shortly before 5am on Thursday 7 May.
All emergency services were quickly at the scene.
The woman was taken to hospital for urgent treatment for her injuries. She remains there in a serious but stable condition.
The man had also sustained injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment, where he also remains in a serious but stable condition
That man, 35, and from the Witham area, has now been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Two charged with multiple sexual offences
Detectives have secured charges against two men in connection with an investigation into human trafficking for sexual exploitation, rape and other sexual offences.
Officers from the Serious Crime Directorate at Essex Police carried co-ordinated searches at premises in Danbury, Maldon, and Braintree on Wednesday 6 May and arrested two men.
Since then we have been liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service.
We can now confirm that 57 year-old Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and 32 year-old Scott Drewitt-Barlow, both of Southwood Chase, Danbury, have both been charged with multiple offences including rape, sexual assault, and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation.
They are due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 5 June and will remain in custody until then.
Chelmsford: Officers make arrest and recover knife after calls
Armed officers from Essex Police’s Force Support Unit arrested a teenage boy and recovered a knife within minutes of reports of threats in Chelmsford this morning.
Officers were called to the Regiment Gate area shortly before 8.30am today, Thursday 7 May, following reports that two teenagers were being threatened.
Armed officers responded quickly, detained a suspect in a calm and controlled manner, and recovered a knife.
They remained in the area afterwards to engage with members of the public and provide reassurance.
A 15-year-old boy, from South Woodham Ferrers, remains in custody for questioning.
 Tilbury: Man arrested as stolen motorcycle recovered
A man has been arrested and a motorcycle recovered in Tilbury by Thurrock neighbourhood policing officers on patrol in the town.
They conducted a search of the area following reports a motorcycle had been stolen in Thurrock Park Way on Wednesday 6 May.
They quickly stopped and searched a man in Hobart Road and recovered a catapult and a quantity of cannabis. A motorcycle was also recovered and seized as part of our investigation.
A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of Class B drugs. He remains in custody and our inquiries continue.
A motorcycle was recovered and seized as part of the investigation, with enquiries ongoing to identify further suspects involved.
 Pitsea: Woman sentenced in connection with fatal collision
A woman has been sentenced following an investigation by specialist officers into a fatal collision in Pitsea.
Roman and Darcie Casselden died when the privately owned e-scooter they were riding were in collision with a car in Ashlyns on 1 February last year.
The driver of the car – 21 year-old Deimante Ziobryte, of Benfleet – admitted failing to stop at the scene of a collision at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on 6 March this year.
The month before, detectives from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit concluded there were no offences identified relating to the cause of the collision itself.
However Ziobryte had failed to stop at the scene, instead stopping a short distance away where she was located by responding officers.
On Tuesday 6 May, at the same court she has been sentenced to three months in prison suspended for 12 months, disqualified from driving for three years, and 80 hours of unpaid work.
 Our marine officers are working to keep the Essex coastline safe
Our marine officers stayed ashore over the bank holiday weekend to engage with members of the Essex marine community.
Their focus was on ensuring users of personal watercraft (PWCs) know how they work, know about safety on the water and know what the local water byelaws permit.
They visited Clacton, Point Clear, Alresford Creek, Mersea Island, Tollesbury, St Lawrence and Southend.
The weekend’s patrols were part of our Marine Unit’s regular spring and summer patrols to tackle and deter anti-social behaviour along our coastline.
Operation Wave-Breaker was launched in 2021 in response to anti-social behaviour caused by personal watercraft. Since the patrols started, reported incidents have dropped considerably.
Key locations for our officers, along the shoreline and on the water, include Point Clear on the River Colne, West Mersea and Steeple Bay on the River Blackwater and Southend sea front, where the city council has a public spaces protection order in place.
 Wickford: Two sentenced for counterfeit currency production
Two men who attempted to illegally produce and distribute large quantities of counterfeit £20 notes have been sentenced following an investigation by the Proactive Money Laundering Team within the Essex Police Serious Crime Directorate.
Anthony Grimes and Paul Jones operated from a rented industrial unit in Wickford, where officers uncovered a sophisticated, large‑scale counterfeit currency operation during a warrant executed on 9 April 2024. The workshop contained specialist printing equipment, adapted machinery, production lines, and materials capable of replicating Bank of England polymer notes, with evidence linking both men directly to the site.
Nearly £600,000 in counterfeit notes connected to the operation were later recovered by the Bank of England, with investigators estimating the pair had the capacity to produce up to £2.7 million. Following arrests and charges of conspiracy to make counterfeit currency, both men initially denied the offences before changing their pleas.
At Basildon Crown Court on 5 May 2026, Grimes, 64, was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison, while Jones, 50, received a sentence of four years and five months.
 Search for missing person Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto
It has now been more than 60 days since Vitoria Barreto was reported missing and our focus remains on locating her and understanding what has happened.
Since those initial concerns were raised on 4 March, we’ve carried out extensive physical searches, focusing on areas where Vitoria was last seen and locations identified through CCTV, witness accounts and specialist analysis.
These searches have involved uniformed officers, detectives, police search teams and specialist partners, covering large and often challenging areas of land and coastline.
Although we are still not yet able to confirm with a high degree of certainty that Vitoria unmoored a boat from Brightlingsea in the early hours of 4 March, which was later found adrift close to Bradwell, a consistent working hypothesis of the investigation has been that this was Vitoria and that she may have reached the Bradwell shoreline.
That area has been extensively searched, physically where possible and with air support, with all available CCTV reviewed meticulously.
Officers are appealing to anyone who may have seen her or has information to call 999.
You can also share information through our dedicated portal.
One of our neighbourhood policing officers has been recognised by The Thieves of Colchester for her work helping to protect city businesses from criminals.
Among recent initiatives, PC Carly Mond has established and led intelligence-sharing meetings between multiple stores and initiated Operation Valuable, which focuses policing attention on the stores most prone to shop theft.
Carly also worked to upgrade the retailers’ radio scheme at Stane Retail Park and designed and progressed a scheme to identify and disrupt stores who accept stolen goods for re-sale.
This involves retailers marking certain theft-prone goods with UV pens, helping to identify their source if they are stolen.
And now Carly’s work has been recognised by The Colchester Association for the Protection of Property*, known as The Thieves.
 Harwich: Port operation targets the theft of agricultural and construction vehicles
Our rural engagement officers have been checking vehicles and containers travelling through Harwich International Port.
They mount regular operations at our ports with the National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team, targeting the theft of agricultural and construction vehicles and equipment.
During their latest visit to Harwich, officers stopped and checked more than 200 lorries and containers waiting to board North Sea ferries and examined 50 items of plant and machinery.
 Stansted Airport: Vehicle safety checks see two cars seized and 28 motorists reported for offences
The operation in Thremhall Avenue on 29 April was primarily aimed at taxis and private hire vehicles but officers also stopped the drivers of other vehicles if they spotted potential offences. Altogether, 50 vehicles were stopped for further inspection.
The neighbourhood policing team linked up with colleagues in roads policing and our Commercial Vehicle Unit, together with staff from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Licensing officers from Uttlesford, Braintree, Chelmsford, Harlow and Wolverhampton councils were also present to check taxi and private hire drivers were correctly licensed.
 Essex Police Museum May opening notice
Please note that the museum will be closed to the public on Saturday 16 May and Saturday 23 May. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. During this time, you can still explore our collections, stories and research through our Virtual Museum and History Notebooks at: .
 Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
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
Add extra protection to your windows
Burglars often target windows to gain entry to your home, especially during warmer days when people are more likely to leave them open.
You can add extra protection to your windows by fitting key‑operated window locks on ground‑floor and easy‑to‑reach windows, using laminated glass or security film, and installing sash stops on sash windows. Window opening restrictors can allow ventilation but should be secure so they can’t be opened from outside.
If you are replacing windows, consider security‑accredited products that meet British standards A locksmith belonging to the Master Locksmiths Association can suggest the correct standard of window lock and offer advice on upgrading window security.
Be fraud smart
Be cautious of scam emails that claim to be from TV Licensing
These messages often say your licence hasn’t been renewed or that a Direct Debit payment has failed, and encourage you to click a link to “renew” your licence. A key warning sign is that the link may take you to a “.jp” website (a Japanese‑registered web address), which is designed to steal your personal and payment details.
Do not click the link or enter any personal or bank information. If you need to check your TV licence, always go to the official website by typing it into a search engine, not by using links in emails.
You can help protect others by reporting scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
 Join our team
Police staff jobs
Kennel Assistant £27,204
Speed Enforcement Officer £27,204
Fraud Prevention Coordinator £33,603
Litigation Executive £42,612
Contact Centre Officers £27,204 to £29,859
Community Support Officers (PCSO) £27,204 to £32,613
Visit our website for full advert, job descriptions and application form.
 This week we remember
Thomas George Joyce
Thomas Joyce was a gardener before he joined Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary as a Constable. He transferred to Southend-On-Sea Constabulary on October 1, 1914 and resigned on March 30, 1915 having joined the Coldstream Guards. He was killed in battle on May 11, 1916.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.
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