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ESSEX

You said – we did in Halstead

Concerns raised at Halstead public meeting results in Special Constable operation

A team of Special Constables carried out an operation targeting anti-social behaviour following concerns raised at a meeting hosted by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex in Halstead.

Acting on information received at a local public meeting, organised by Roger Hirst, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, a team of Special Constables carried out some patrols to disrupt the anti-social behaviour going on in the town’s parks.

At the event, attended by around 100 residents, Mr Hirst outlined some of the issues he was speaking to the Government about in terms of trying to increase funding for Essex Police in the future as well as highlighting some of the areas that had already improved, including the roll out of mobile technology devices that enabled officers to spend more time out on the streets as well as increasing the number of Police Officers, Special Constables, Active Citizens and Volunteer Police Cadets.

Roger Hirst, Jane Gardner, Craig Carrington

At the Halstead public meeting, Roger Hirst, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Jane Gardner, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex and District Commander, Chief Inspector Craig Carrington.

 

 

 

Joining him at the meeting were Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Gardner, Essex Police’s District Commander for Uttlesford and Braintree, Chief Inspector Craig Carrington and the Chair of the Community Safety Partnership and Acting Chief Executive of Braintree District Council Andy Wright.

The panel answered some interesting questions and points raised by the audience who had a number of concerns relating to:

  • anti-social behaviour taking place in local parks during the evening and weekends
  • police funding
  • the closure of Halstead Police Station
  • officer visibility
  • response times to incidents
  • crime levels

Mr Hirst said: “I’m delighted that as a result of information received at this meeting, officers were able to take direct action. It is really important that we hear first-hand about their concerns and what we can do to make things better.

“There is not always a quick solution and many of the issues raised have to be approached in partnership with our community safety colleagues but if we don’t know about them we can’t help.

“We took away a number of action points from the debate and hopefully we can all work together to make things better for the people being affected.

“The fact that the Community Policing Team was able to respond using their team of Special Constables shows just how useful they are in terms of helping us to act on concerns of local residents. I hope the officer who was injured makes a quick recovery.”

Chief Inspector Craig Carrington said: “I’m extremely proud of the contribution that our Special Constables make to help keep our communities safe and that we can use them to help address local concerns. Many of those who volunteer live and work in the area and have a real drive to help with issues that affect their neighbourhoods. We are recruiting for more Special Constables and I would urge anybody who wants to get involved to contact us or look on the Essex Police website or social media channels for more information. They can search for details using the #MyOtherLife”

Minutes from the meeting, held on Thursday, September 7 at the Queens Hall in Chipping Hill, Halstead will be published on www.essex.pcc.police.uk in due course.

The next public meeting is being held in South Woodham Ferrers on Tuesday, October 24 between 6.30pm and 8pm at the Champions Manor Hall Community Centre in Hullbridge Road, South Woodham Ferrers.

  • A 16-year-old boy from Halstead was arrested on Tuesday, September 12 and charged with possessing an offensive weapon and obstructing a police officer in the course of his duty. He will appear before Chelmsford Youth Court on Friday, September 29.

The boy was also arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs with intent to supply, for which he has been released under investigation.

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PFCC for Essex, Kelvedon Park, London Road, Rivenhall, Witham, Essex, CM8 3HB
01245 291600

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