Today, young people from schools across Essex beamed into our PFCC Live Access event and questioned us about how are keeping them safe in Essex. 

The live sessions explored topics such as the role of police and fire service in our communities, knife crime and water safety. The day finished with a Q and A with Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. 

Roger said: "Today's event has been exceptional, with more young people joining the sessions and taking part than was anticipated. Thank you to everyone who sent in some really thought provoking and challenging questions.

"This event dealt with really important topics and the feedback provided by the young people on these subjects will be key to informing the further work of my team, the police, fire services and our partners.”

New campaign to raise awareness of knife harm

New research undertaken by the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (VVU) shows that 69% of parents in Essex are concerned about knife crime in their local area. Two thirds of parents are also worried about their child becoming a victim of knife crime.

The new campaign seeks to help parents and carers by ensuring they have the information, knowledge and support to have conversations with their children about the dangers of carrying a knife. 

The chair of the Violence and Vulnerability Partnership Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex said: “We want Essex to be a county that everyone feels safe in. Safe to go about their work, business and pleasure.  And while violent crime is falling and being a victim of crime is rare, knife crime is too high and reducing it is extremely important to me and why I have invested heavily in the Violence and Vulnerability Unit." 

One knife crime is one too many. 

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DPFCC response to Ashley Wadsworth documentary 

As a new documentary about the murder of 19-year-old Ashley Wadsworth in Chelmsford has aired week on ITVX, the chair of the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB) is urging people to get the help they need to break the cycle of domestic abuse.

Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Jane Gardner, said: “Ashley was just 19, visiting England from Canada, and had her whole life ahead before Jack Sepple took that away from her. He’s serving a life sentence in prison but that is no compensation for her family.

“Breaking the cycle of domestic abuse is a key priority in PFCC Roger Hirst’s Police and Crime Plan.

“Last year we successfully secured £503,000 in funding from the Home Office and invested this in support for survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence in Essex. This means that we are able to provide funding to organisations such as Synergy rape crisis partnership, The Children’s Society, Wilderness Foundation and specialist domestic abuse charities such as Safe Steps, and Next Chapter.

“SETDAB works hard across the county with our partner agencies to encourage survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence to come forward. We want anybody affected by these hideous crimes to know that if they come forward and report crime against them, they will be treated with care and compassion and provided with appropriate support.”

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Unauthorised encampments roundtable

Thanks to great partnership working and the efforts of Essex Police’s rural engagement team, numbers of unauthorised encampments have fallen in Essex by more than 70 per cent since 2018.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst, invited more than 30 different colleagues from Essex Police and local authorities to a round table discussion to refresh the protocols around dealing with unauthorised encampments and share learning ahead of the Spring/Summer season.

At the meeting, Essex Police’s Rural Engagement Team officers, demonstrated how they approach dealing with unauthorised encampments resulting in incidents in Essex dropping from 228 in 2018 to just 60 in 2022 - a reduction of 74 per cent.

More Here

Working in partnership to make Essex safer

Last week our colleagues at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service organised an event which focussed on bringing partners together to help keep people who live, work and travel in Essex safe.

Jane Gardner, our Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, spoke at the partnership tree and networking event.

She said: “Essex has a great track record of working together in partnership and this event really showcased that. Great connections were made, relationships will grow, and we are enthused to do even more to help keep people safe. Well done to the prevention team at the fire and rescue service for organising this event.”

Join us at our Rural Crime Open Day!

Together with Essex Police and the Essex Rural Partnership we would like to invite you to come along to our open day. 

Hosted at Layer Marney Tower on the 10th of March from 1pm, the public is welcome to visit stalls, listen to officers talk about real-life cases, enjoy refreshments from the teashop and more!

More Information 

We're Hiring! 

We have a vacancy for a Scrutiny Officer to join our team.

This role supports our governance boards as well as project managing any scrutiny reviews that are commissioned. If you are well organised and a master at prioritising and managing competing demands this could be the job for you.

Closing date is the 8th of March. 

Apply Here