News 16 April to 22 April
Meet PCSOs Deb and Ian
With more than 40 years of combined policing experience, Deb Edwards and Ian Grant are dedicated Policing Community Support Officers (PCSOs) for Wickford.
Deb says:
“As PCSOs, we play a crucial role in neighbourhood policing. We connect with our communities, support vulnerable victims, help catch criminals, and a lot more in between. We truly are the eyes and ears.”
Deb and Ian are in Wickford everyday they’re on shift. Say hello when you see them and learn more about how they keep our neighbourhoods safe.
Tackling speeding on our roads
24 drivers have been reported for speeding after officers carried out speed checks in Wickford and Billericay.
The checks were in response to concerns raised by local people about motorists driving too fast on local roads.
Speed is a major factor in road deaths and serious injuries. It's understandable to be concerned about speeding motorists. Speed limits are crucial because higher speeds reduce reaction time and increase stopping distance, making accidents more likely.
When an officer reports a driving offence, the report is reviewed. The driver will be informed of the action to be taken, which could be a fine, points on their licence, or an education course. For serious offences, the driver may have to go to court, where penalties could include a fine, a driving ban, or prison.
Speed checks not only catch speeding drivers but also discourage others from speeding. Encouraging drivers and motorcyclists to consider their behaviour helps make roads safer for everyone.
Within 90 minutes, 24 road users were captured speeding. This included one driver who was recorded traveling 59mph on Queens Park Road in Billericay. That’s almost double the road’s 30mph speed limit.
We will continue to carry out speed checks in the places you tell us that you are concerned about motorists speeding.
PC Barry Hilton retires after nearly 23 years of service
Saturday 19 April, saw us bid farewell to PC Barry Hilton, who is retiring after nearly 23 years of dedicated service.
Barry joined Essex Police in 2008, following six years of service in Kent. He worked in the Benfleet and Rayleigh areas before becoming part of the Basildon team in 2010.
Since 2018, Barry has been a valued member of the Basildon Town Team—a role he describes as his favourite.
Reflecting on his career, Barry shared:
"As with any job, there have been good times and not so good times. But the best role I have had in my 22-plus years as a police officer has been with the Basildon Town Team.
"The best days are when the sun is shining, and I get the chance to meet some lovely members of our community and get to know them. I won’t miss the cold days patrolling in rain and hail so much!
"The Basildon Town Team is a fantastic group of officers who care about Basildon and its people, working together to ensure everyone's safety."
Barry will be greatly missed by everyone at Basildon Police Station. We wish him every happiness in his retirement. Thank you for your service, Barry!
Electric bike seized after community concerns
An electric bike has been seized after local people told us they felt it was being ridden dangerously on Wickford High Street and putting others at risk.
Once officers arrived and investigated further, the bike was seized.
You can ride an electric bike, or an 'electrically assisted pedal cycle', without a license or insurance if you're 14 or over.
To be an electric bike it must:
- have pedals that you can use to propel it have only two wheels
- have an electric motor that can run continuously at a maximum power of no more than 250 watts
- have no electrical assistance once you reach 15.5 miles per hour (mph)
If your electric bike fails to meet any of these requirements it needs to be taxed and insured as either a motorcycle or a moped.
Essex Police keeping our water ways safe
Our marine officers will be looking out for you this Easter weekend if you are visiting our coast.
They’ve launched their regular spring and summer patrols to tackle and deter anti-social behaviour along the Essex coastline.
Sergeant Alex Southgate says that while we want everyone to enjoy themselves, ‘we won’t tolerate people putting the safety of others at risk in and around our coastline’.
If you’re thinking of getting out on the water, before you head off, find out about local byelaws and speed restrictions, take the correct safety gear, check the tides and weather forecast, ensure you have a way of contacting someone on the land and make sure you know what to do in an emergency.
If you see them, do say hello. They’re always happy to answer questions and, as well as knowing what’s cool on the water and what’s not, they can also provide specialised crime prevention advice.
Southend man admits to 29 shop thefts in Basildon
A Southend man has admitted committing 29 shop thefts in Basildon, Hullbridge, South Woodham Ferrers and Wickford.
The 37-year-old also pleaded guilty to drug-driving on 20 August 2024.
Chelmsford magistrates heard on 12 April that when the man had been arrested the day before, he’d refused to provide a sample for a Class A drug test, which he is required to do under our drug test on arrest (DTOA) scheme. He also admitted this charge.
The court was told the man targeted the bp garage in East Mayne, Basildon, on 24 occasions since June 2024 – sometimes twice on the same day. He also stole from BP garages in Cranfield Park Road, Wickford, and South Woodham Ferrers, and the Co-op store in Ferry Road, Hullbridge.
The man is due to be sentenced for all 30 offences on 23 May.
Under DTOA, detainees who test positive are required to attend an assessment session with one of the drugs treatment services we work with in #Essex. This is one of the ways in which we try to help people with addictions to break away from a cycle of reoffending and turn their lives around.
Between 1 January and 13 April 2025, 437 people were arrested on suspicion of shoplifting in Essex and 294 of those were charged with a total of 890 counts of shop theft, while 26 were charged with assaulting a retail worker, too.
PCSO Adams 18 year service
PCSO Kat Adams has proudly served with Essex Police for 18 years, and for almost three years, Billericay has been her dedicated patch.
“Our communities give so much and are so key to what we do and how we problem solve. They’re such a big part of the puzzle.”
Kat has built strong connections with the community and understands their concerns and the hot spot areas.
“I love reassuring and helping my communities. I’ve got to know the people and they know me.”
You’ll see Kat in Billericay every day she’s on shift. Say hello and tell us what matters to you.
Essex millionaire murders
An Essex Police murder investigation is the focus of a prime-time documentary on ITV.
Essex Millionaire Murders tells the tragic story around Carol and Stephen Baxter’s deaths on 9 April 2023, at their home on Mersea Island. The investigation remains one of the most complex ever undertaken by the force.
Watch the team unravel the Baxter murder case in the two part true crime documentary series on ITV1.
Part 1: Monday 28 April at 9pm
Part 2: Tuesday 29 April at 9pm
Let's talk
Upcoming community police events
Thursday 24 April 11am to 12pm
Miracle House, Silva Island Way Wickford, SS12 9NR
Friday 25 April 10am to 11am
St Johns Church, Outwood Common Road Billericay, CM11 2LE
Saturday 3 May 11am to 12pm
Miracle House, Silva Island Way Wickford, SS12 9NR
Tuesday 6 May 3pm to 4pm
Orleto Lounge, 2 East Square, Basildon SS14 1HS
Thursday 8 May 9am to 10am
St Andrews Church, 3 The Fremnells, Basildon SS14 2QX
Tuesday 13 May 11am to 12pm
Miracle House, Silva Island Way Wickford, SS12 9NR
Tuesday 13 May 11am to 12pm
Towngate Theatre, St Martins Square Basildon, SS14 1DL
Wednesday 14 May 10am to 11am
Human Kind Café, 111 High Street, Billericay CM12 9AJ
Thursday 15 May 6pm to 7pm
Hannakins Farm, Rosebay Avenue, Billericay CM12 0SY
Saturday 17 May 10am to 11am
St Andrews Church, London Rd, Wickford SS12 0AN
Wednesday 21 May 11am to 12pm
Wickford Town Council Office, Wych Elm House, Nevendon Road Wickford, SS12 9RZ
Thursday 22 May 10am to 11am
Waitrose, 112-118 High Street, Billericay CM12 9BY
Thursday 22 May 11am to 12pm
Starbucks, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Basildon SS14 1EB
Saturday 31 May 11am to 12pm
Miracle House, Silva Island Way Wickford, SS12 9NR
Crime prevention advice
Keeping your shed or garage safe and secure
Many people don’t secure their shed or garage in the same way they do their homes - often using an easy-to-break lock or padlock to protect valuable contents such as a car, bike or lawnmower.
An opportunistic burglar will try a shed or garage first because they can find the tools they need to break into the main house.
Be fraud smart
When buying tickets use the venue’s box office, official promoter or agent, or a trusted ticket site.
What is heritage crime?
Heritage crime, as defined by Historic England, is any offence which harms the value of heritage assets and their settings. Heritage assets are sites which are considered to have value to the heritage of England. Such sites include –
• Listed buildings
• Scheduled monuments
• World Heritage Sites
• Protected marine wreck sites
• Conservation areas
• Registered parks and gardens
• Registered battlefields
• Protected military remains of aircraft and vessels of historic interest
• Undesignated but acknowledged heritage buildings and sites.
This offence may take place indirectly through other crimes; those that are posing the largest threat to heritage sites are -
• Criminal damage – vandalism, graffiti and arson
• Architectural theft – in particular metal and stone
• Unlawful metal detecting - often referred to as 'Nighthawking'
• Anti-social behaviour- in particular fly-tipping and off-road driving
• Illicit trade in cultural objects
• Unauthorised works to a listed building or scheduled monument.
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