Supporting a safe and secure Essex
Tackling gangs and County Lines, breaking the cycle of domestic abuse and preventing crimes from happening in the first place are just some of the commitments being made today by Essex’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst.
Roger has published an extension to his Police and Crime Plan which will set the vision for policing and community safety until May 2021.
You can view the plan here: 20200626 Police and Crime Plan Extension
Roger said: “For me, safe and secure communities are the bedrock on which we build wellbeing and prosperity for all. And that means communities which are well policed; but also, where we all play our role in making sure criminals have no scope to thrive, watching out for the vulnerable and helping the police where we can. I said this in the introduction to my original Police and Crime Plan which was published in 2016.
“Today, that vision remains exactly the same and is still at the very core of this extension to the Plan which will set our objectives as we continue to work with Essex Police, our fire and rescue colleagues, community and other emergency services partners, businesses, local and national government, the justice system, volunteers, faith groups, charities and of course everyone who lives, works and travels in Essex.
“In the past four years we have achieved a lot, Essex Police is the strongest it has been in many years with dedicated town centre, rural and business crime teams and continues to grow. Over the last three years we have undertaken the largest recruitment campaign in decades, and we will be continuing that significant growth this year.
“We also have the second largest Special Constabulary in the country and the fastest growing. We have made huge strides in working in collaboration, effectively using our finances to put more into frontline policing as well as reducing anti-social behaviour and bringing huge amounts of investment into the county to help tackle County Lines and protect our most vulnerable people.”
“Over the next year, with our partners, we will be investing even more into tackling gangs and County Lines. Working with partners nationally we will target the people leading this corrosive, evil activity. Through increased local enforcement we will make it harder for criminals to come to Essex to commit these crimes and by protecting our vulnerable and young people we will ensure that fewer of them are preyed on and exploited.
“We have already made significant progress in identifying those affected by domestic abuse and ensuring victims get the help they need to cope and recover. Over the next year we will be building on this success to start to reduce the numbers of incidents by dealing with perpetrators and helping prevent domestic abuse before it has the chance to blight people’s lives.”
Chief Constable BJ Harrington and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst
Chief Constable BJ Harrington said: “This plan, is so important because keeping the people and communities of Essex safe is the priority for everyone.
“I am pleased that the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has extended the period it covers, and we continue to work together to keep the county safe.
“I have been really proud to see the outstanding work from our force’s officers, staff and volunteers who strive daily to keep the people of our county safe; catch criminals; and support each other whilst maintaining the trust of the public.”
He continued: “Policing with the consent and support of the public is still the foundation of British Policing – this means with and on behalf of the diverse communities of Essex and the uniqueness of our county. In working on this plan, we do and will continue to ensure that we deliver a service that is truly representative and understanding of Essex; in what we do, what we say and who we are. In this way we can continue the proud history of policing in, with and on behalf of the people of Essex.”
To update the Plan, the Commissioner and his team looked at what had been achieved so far, took into account what residents and partners thought using a number of surveys and engagement activities and looked at what new challenges were now facing Essex in light of the Coronavirus pandemic and of course different crime trends.
