News 17 May to 23 June
A proactive stop on the A12 near Boreham has taken a firearm off the streets, recovered a stolen vehicle and put a dangerous offender back behind bars.
Our officers identified a car using false number plates and safely brought it to a stop using planned tactics, avoiding a pursuit. A handgun loaded with five live rounds was found inside the vehicle, which had been stolen from Surrey.
The driver, 44-year-old Tony Powell, admitted firearms offences and was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court to six years in prison, with an extra four years on licence after being classed as a dangerous offender.
Our teams work every day to keep people safe, remove weapons from our communities and bring offenders to justice.
A quick update about your Dispatch newsletter
We’re making some changes to your Dispatch.
From this week we are moving Dispatch from weekly to monthly which means each month you will get an action-packed bumper edition.
Nothing you rely on is going anywhere - you’ll still get the same local news, updates and crime prevention advice.
And each edition will now come direct from your District Commander who delivers local policing to your neighbourhoods. You will hear direct from them around what’s been happening near you, what we’re working on right now, our successes, the crime types we’ve been focusing on and how we’re supporting our community day to day.
Our goal for Dispatch stays the same: keeping you informed, reassured and connected to your local policing teams.
And if you ever want more, you don’t have to wait for the next email. We’ll keep publishing all our latest news on our website, and you can also follow us on our social media channels for regular updates from across Essex.
So you’re never far from the information that matters to you.
Thanks for sticking with us, we really value your support.
A repeat offender is back behind bars after our Child Protection Team uncovered further online offences while he was subject to strict court restrictions.
Lee Arthurs, 41, was arrested in Colchester after accessing chat platforms and attempting to communicate sexually with children. A forensic check of his device found more indecent images and conversations, and he was charged with multiple offences as well as breaching his court order.
He admitted the offences at Chelmsford Crown Court and was sentenced to five years in prison. Protecting children from these types of offenders is a priority for us at Essex Police. We continue to be vigilant, monitor those on licence, and will act swiftly.
We’ve been listening to people across Essex to better understand the needs of our communities and improve how we protect those we serve.
Through a series of local events, we brought together residents, community groups and partners to share honest experiences and help shape our approach. We heard powerful stories from people affected by serious crime, including murder, sexual abuse and hate crime, which are helping us learn and improve. Discussions focused on key issues such as violence against women and girls, gang and knife crime, and how we can work more closely with communities to tackle them.
These conversations are helping us strengthen relationships and make sure our policing reflects what matters most to the people of Essex.
We’re working to make new homes and communities safer from the very start by getting involved early in the design stage.
Our Designing Out Crime officers work closely with developers, councils and architects to spot risks and reduce opportunities for crime before buildings are even constructed. For example, on a new 492‑home development in Basildon, we reviewed plans using crime data and recommended practical measures like secure doors and windows, controlled entry systems, safer parking areas and limiting access so only residents can reach certain parts of the building.
This approach helps prevent issues like anti-social behaviour and drug activity, gives residents peace of mind, and supports safer, well‑managed communities in the long term.
Two men arrested as part of an investigation into human trafficking for sexual exploitation have now been charged with further offences.
Our detectives from the Serious Crime Directorate have continued their work following arrests made last month.
A 57-year-old man, Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, has now been charged with an additional 15 offences. These include rape, sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, paying for the sexual services of a child, and causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent.
A 32-year-old man, Scott Drewitt-Barlow, has also been charged with further offences, including rape and causing or inciting sexual activity.
Both men, from Southwood Chase in Danbury, remain in custody and are due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday 22 June.
If you have any information about this investigation, please contact us through our Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) or call the incident room on 0800 051 4526. If you’re calling from outside the UK, dial 0207 126 7612.
We are appealing for witnesses after a serious collision in Colchester. We were called shortly after 4.45pm on Friday 19 June to Tollgate Road, where a white Toyota RAV4 and a blue Suzuki motorbike were involved in a crash.
The rider, a man, suffered potentially serious injuries to his arm, leg and chest and was taken to hospital.
We’re asking anyone who saw what happened, or who may have CCTV or dash cam footage, to get in touch and quote incident 213 of 19 June.
 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
Key safes can be a simple way to give access to family or carers, but if they’re not used carefully, they can make it easier for someone to get into your home, especially when they’re easy to spot or still using the original code.
Placing them out of sight, changing the code regularly, using a high-quality, police-approved model, and only sharing the code with people you trust can make a big difference.
Take a moment to check yours today and make sure it’s as secure as it can be.
Be fraud smart
Waiting for a parcel? Double-check before you click any links in texts or emails.
Scammers often send messages claiming you’ve missed a delivery and need to pay a small fee, or they pose as a courier to get your card details. These messages can look genuine, but the links usually lead to fake websites.
Don’t click on unexpected links or rush to make a payment. Instead, go directly to the delivery company’s official website or app to check your parcel.
If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts – it’s always better to pause than to be caught out.
 Visit the Essex Police website for last week's crime data. Especially useful to Essex Watch and Neighbourhood Watch groups.
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