POLICE are hoping someone will be able to identify a man from an e-fit they are issuing following an attempted accosting in Corringham.

A woman in her 40s was running in One Tree Hill Country Park just before 8am on April 4, 2013 when she was approached from behind by a man who grabbed hold of her in a sexual manner. The woman managed to free herself and sought help from nearby dog walkers. She was unharmed but shaken.

The man made off in a Ford Focus car which had been parked in a layby in One Tree Hill. The car is thought to have been either dark blue or black and travelled in the direction of Lampitts Hill.

The man is described as aged around 50, 5ft 8in to 5ft 9in tall and of medium to stocky build. He had dark brown hair which was receding and was wearing a white t-shirt, waist length navy blue jacket and dark trousers.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has information that could help police or who recognises the man from the E-fit is urged to contact Dc Clive Day at Grays CID on 101.

POLICE are urging Thurrock farmers and landowners to beware of a scam in which household and business waste is being illegally dumped on open land and camouflaged as plastic-wrapped hay bales.

The warning follows the discovery of about 1,500 tons of waste after a search warrant was executed on land in south Essex.

Officers from the Environment Agency are now concerned that other sites in Essex may be targeted in the same way.

Investigators from the EA believe that criminals are making huge sums of money by charging to take away household or business waste but then dumping it at remote rural locations instead of using official permitted sites.

The rubbish is being compacted into plastic wrapping, capable of holding about half a ton. These are taken to fields or open land and built into haystack shapes, to give the impression that they are seemingly ‘normal’ plastic bags used by farmers to store hay, straw or silage.

Lesley Robertson, an Environment Agency Environmental Crime Team Leader, said: “The discovery of around 3,000 bales of rubbish in Essex is believed to be linked to a highly-organised criminal scam involving the disposal of household and business waste.

“This is an emerging trend but the first time evidence of the scam has been found in south Essex. However, we are concerned that more bales may have been dumped elsewhere and we want to urge people to look out for these sites and report them to us.

“This is a form of fly-tipping but on a massive and organised scale. The bales are being stored to look like farmers’ haystacks and the contents will only come to light if the bags tear.

“The waste includes all forms of household and business rubbish such as food waste, plastic and cans. They are being dumped and abandoned with total disregard for the environment, landowners and any member of the public who use the land.

“We urge any landowners, farmers, ramblers or dog walkers who find these sites to call us immediately on our 24-hour free incident hotline number 0800 80 70 60 or make an anonymous report to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Three men, aged 19, 23 and 47 and all from east London were arrested on suspicion of depositing and storing waste on an unpermitted site when police and the Environment Agency executed a warrant on land off Arterial Road, Purfleet on April 10. They were interviewed at Grays police station before being bailed until July 10 by EA officers pending further enquiries.

POLICE are reminding people to keep their bags and keys out of sight to help prevent burglaries following an incident in Deben, East Tilbury, where a car was taken from the driveway.

Thieves had got into the premises and took a bag containing the car keys for a black VW Golf on Thursday, April 11 sometime overnight.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Essex Police on 101.

NEXT WEEK AT a meeting of the full council, portfolio holder for public protection, cllr Angie Gaywood will detail the achievements of the council in relation to all matters relating to crime. There, cllr Gaywood will be questioned by councillors on the record for public protection over the past year.

Cllr Gaywood said:

“I am delighted to be presenting for the first time my portfolio report to Council.

The portfolio covers a very wide range of services, many of which are statutory functions ensuring the general public, local businesses, industry, and our children and young people are kept safe and protected.

The Public Protection portfolio is very much a partnership relationship working very closely with the Police and local neighbourhood policing teams, and the Fire service and Authority, and I have worked closely with these partners and members through the Community Safety Partnership and in other areas such as anti social behaviour issues.

Additionally I have sought actively to ensure that we engage fully and work more closely with all our other key partners in the Council and outside such as the formation of the School Safety Working Group formed within this portfolio year.

I am also very grateful for the additional support from the shadow portfolio holder, Councillor Simon Wootton, and for the close working relationship we have formed making this an inclusive role in which we have both worked hard together to support and protect the residents of Thurrock.

I am very proud of the work carried out by our teams and whilst we have had some real successes this year we have also met some key challenges, such as the organisation of the Olympic Torch Relay, working with the police in tackling the Car Cruisers at Lakeside, the election of the new Police and Crime Commissioner and the effects of the economic climate on crime.

Many of the services within my portfolio are not particularly well known and so I wanted this report to provide a real overview of the key areas covered within Public Protection and provide some detail as to their performance and projects run in the last year.

DAAT (Drug and Alcohol Action Team)

The DAAT, as Members will remember, has recently been identified as the best performing DAAT in the country, providing an excellent service to residents with substance misuse problems. The figures speak for themselves, but outstanding results during 2012/13 are welcomed and we look for this to continue in 2013/14. During the year, the adult DAAT team have taken on the operation of the Thurrock Young Persons Drug and Alcohol Service (TYPDAS). This will allow for the spectacular results for the DAAT to be built upon and replicated for the young person’s service in the years to come.

As Members will be aware the work of the Drug and Alcohol teams in Thurrock provides treatment and other support to drug users to assist them in kicking their habits. The other support provided results from the multi agency and cross council working of the team.

Civil Protection

The Civil Protection Team has continued to undertake its statutory duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (as amended) including:

Input with the Olympics and torch relay.

COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazard) Industrial off-site plan testing with 8 sites being tested ending March 2012.

Supporting businesses and consumers in the event of an incident. Training has been given to volunteers in the event of the opening of a rest centre for
displaced persons in case of an incident.

Operation of an on call duty rota covering 24/7 responding to incidents where assistance is required from emergency services in evacuation, transport of displaced persons and highways diversions.

Continuing work on the Council and services business continuity plans.

Community Safety

Thurrock Community Safety Partnership continues to work to keep residents, businesses and visitors to Thurrock safe.

The partnership continues to work to tackle anti-social behaviour through our Locality Action Groups, where officers from a number of agencies work together to deal with issues raised.

The work carried out by the community alcohol project has helped to tackle alcohol related violent crime.

The Partnership has held three stay safe events in 2012 aimed at raising awareness of community safety amongst those with a learning disability. The partnership has also launched True Vision which is an online third party reporting system for hate crime. This has added to the service already provided to hate crime victims which is seen to be one of the best in the County.

In partnership with children’s and adult services and the voluntary sector, including SERICC and Thurrock Women’s Aid, an excellent programme of 16 days of action against violence against women was delivered last November. This work continues with many of the actions identified having either been delivered or are actively progressing.

Working with our Youth Offending Service, first time entrants to the criminal justice system have declined by 53% compared to 19% nationally. Reoffending rates stand at 29.6% compared to a national average of 34.1% (09-10). An alcohol worker has been employed to work with our offenders to address those with alcohol needs.

Environmental Crime

The Community Protection Team has had another successful year addressing the ongoing problem of fly-tips in the Borough. We all know this is a major concern for our residents so we have concentrated the efforts of the Team on delivering a robust programme of prevention. This year we have seen a 25% reduction in the number of fly-tips reported in 2012/13, compared with the previous year, down from 1,299, to 972. The improvement in the figures is partly attributable to the work of the team in targeting vehicles carrying waste and enforcing the rules on waste carrier licences. This has been done in conjunction with the Police and is a productive way to disrupt fly-tippers before they tip and so avoid otherwise costly clear up and investigations. 11 fixed penalty notices were served for failure to produce appropriate waste licences during the year.

The team have also worked across the borough with traders who produce the waste, checking waste transfer notes and helping to educate them as to how their waste can be legitimately disposed of. An increasing number of Notices have been served relating to the duty of care of producers of waste during the year. Over 100 of these have been served in the last three months alone. This reduces the likelihood of businesses inadvertently paying unscrupulous operators to dispose of their waste which then ends up being fly-tipped.

The longer term effects of these actions mean that since 2007/8, we have reduced the number of fly-tips by 60%. Whilst this is good news there is always more to be done and we look to make further improvements in 2013/14.

We have carried out consultation this year around dog control and promoting responsible dog ownership. Following the consultation results we are currently working on implementing dog control orders to ban dogs from toddler play areas. I have recently, with other Councillors and officers visited a number of these to establish the best and most effective way to make this happen.

The team continue to work proactively and in relation to resident complaints to tackle dog fouling and littering with a combined total of 67 fixed penalty notices being issued this year. Additionally, 65 proactive operations have been carried out, tackling littering and dog fouling.

Licensing

The Licensing Team are responsible for a wide range of Licences, which Premises Licence (Alcohol and Entertainment), Taxis, Gambling, Sex Establishments, Animal Welfare (e.g. Pet shops, Boarding Kennels), Charity Collections and Scrap Metal.

Last year saw the team processing over 1,200 applications for all types of licences. In addition to the application processing, the team have taken part in numerous multi agency operations with partner agencies around Scrap Metal Thefts; the Community Alcohol Project; Taxis; the Olympics and the night time economy. As well as general enforcement of licences and their conditions, or particular projects like the inspection of all wheelchair accessible vehicles and the checking of all taxi meters.

The Team continues to support the Licensing Committee and has reviewed the Gambling Policy, increased the Hackney Carriage Tariff, updated and implemented the changes to the Licensing Act 2003 brought about by The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. There have been numerous Licensing Sub-Committees where decisions have been made over a variety of taxi and alcohol licensing matters, with any appealed decisions being successfully defended at court.

I would like to thank Licensing Members for their work on the committee and at the many sub-committees that have been held during the year. Without the dedication of these Members, the operation of an effective licensing regime at Thurrock Council would not be possible.

We have also supported and have successfully launched a borough wide Pubwatch and Behave Or Be Banned Scheme (BOBB) which has contributed to the decrease in alcohol related crime in or around licensed premises over the 2012 festive period.

Thurrock Safety Advisory Group is administered and chaired through the Licensing Team which has reviewed 12 large events in the Borough providing support, guidance and regulation, ensuring that the community attending those events remain safe and for those organising the events have access to the skills and resources of all partner agencies.

Health and Safety

The Health and Safety Team have carried out nearly 300 inspections this year to ensure that businesses in Thurrock are safe for those working there as well as those visiting the premises. These visits resulted in over 100 enforcement actions, including 24 Improvement Notices and 3 Immediate Prohibition Notices.

They have also been involved in various projects within Thurrock. Most of the projects participated in are county wide projects and some involve joint working with other local authorities and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

In response to changing government priorities, more impetus is now placed on project work of those businesses thought to be of higher risk and the resources of
the team are targeted accordingly.

106 external accidents were investigated over the year resulting in some recommendations to businesses for improvements to their working practices.

Environmental Protection

The work of the Environmental Protection Team encompasses the areas of pollution control and statutory nuisance. They operate the out of hours noise service and have had considerable success this year in reducing the exposure of residents to noise at night that would otherwise disturb their lives. The team have used a combination of informal intervention and formal legal action to achieve this result.

In the area of pollution control, officers have completed statutory inspections of the permitted processes in the area and continue to work to reduce the impact of these industrial processes on the comfort and wellbeing of residents.

Trading Standards

This service has a particular wide ranging remit and during the year the team has carried out work in numerous areas including training on loan sharks and illegal money lending for over 200 people.

Testing of electric blankets to ensure that they were safe and would not cause a house fire. Unfortunately 36% of blankets failed, however Trading Standards in conjunction with Adult Social Care replaced all those which failed.

All the 20 tanning salons in Thurrock were inspected for safety and compliance with safety standards.

All premises wishing to sell fireworks in Thurrock were licensed and inspected to ensure that they were safe and I spent a day with the team to see for myself the types of risks fireworks sold incorrectly can pose.

3 illegally imported dogs were indentified and successfully quarantined, protecting Thurrock residents against rabies.

Additionally the team have worked to ensure that all sheltered housing sites signed up as No Cold Calling Areas.

We were able to save a vulnerable consumer £6,000, by intervening with a rogue trader cold calling residents.

The team continue to work in partnership to identify overloaded vehicles on Thurrock’s roads. They have carried out 23 road traffic prosecutions so far this year with one company being fined £4,000.

59 underage test purchases for alcohol so far with 5 sales, which is a failure rate of 8.4%. Formal action is in progress for the failures. Training sessions being run for off licence retailers with approximately 20 different premises sending staff.

Food Team

The Food Team has continued to undertake its statutory duties to ensure food safety in Thurrock. They have carried out food hygiene and standards inspections in approximately 1,200 premises from manufacturers, packers, cold stores, import/exporting companies, restaurants and takeaways to schools, care homes and retail stores.

The team have also carried out investigations into food and food premises complaints from residents, allegations of food poisoning, unsafe drinking water and notifiable infectious diseases including legionella.

Food is regularly sampled from businesses across the borough to ensure food safety and accurate labelling (to prevent contamination by allergens and food contamination).

The volume of imported and exported food stored, transported and sold within the borough continues to increase, including the import of nuts, seeds, spices, fruit and vegetables and the export of similar foods.

The team also carry out project work which in the past year have included projects to reduce contamination of food with the potentially lethal e-coli bacteria, education and sampling with regard to nut free products in Indian takeaway foods, identification, monitoring and sampling of private water distribution systems to ensure safe water supplies and a survey of our manufacturing premises and cold stores is currently being undertaken to identify and prevent adulteration of meat products in Thurrock, particularly in relation to horse meat.

Parking Services

Parking Services has continued to undertake the civil enforcement of parking contraventions throughout the Borough, to ensure the safety of road users. In July 2012, this included the enforcement of existing and new temporary parking restrictions introduced in Lodge Lane, Southend Road, Palmers Avenue, Orsett Road and London Road in Grays for the Olympic Torch Relay events.

The performance of Parking Services is contained in the Annual Parking Report for 2012. The headline figures from the report are:

10,960 on-street penalty charge notices issued.

1,557 off-street penalty charge notices issued.

Total surplus income on parking account £63,029.80.

The team also undertook projects in the past year including:-

Improvements were made to the Darnley Road car park in Grays.  Free weekend parking was again provided during December 2012 in all on
and off-street pay-and-display parking places.

Changes were made to the charging structure for residents’ and visitors’ parking permits; with effect from April 2013 the first two residents’ parking permits and the first sheet of visitors’ parking permits will be issued free of charge to eligible households each year.

Dedicated parking spaces for electric vehicles and charging points were provided in the car parks in Argent Street and Crown Road in Grays, Canterbury Parade in South Ockendon and King Street in Stanford le Hope.

Chest-mounted security cameras were procured for Civil Enforcement Officers. These are expected to be brought into operation in April 2013.

A 6-month trial of a CCTV enforcement vehicle has been agreed, primarily to improve the safety of school children by tackling the ongoing problems of inconsiderate and dangerous parking outside all of the boroughs primary schools.

Setting up of the Schools Safety Working Group to support in a multi agency approach in tackling the safety of school children travelling to and from school.

DETECTIVES are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a pizza bag following a robbery in Grays.

A delivery man had been attending a residential address on Mill Road at 10pm on Tuesday, April 16 when he was approached by several men who threatened him with a firearm, before stealing the pizza bag and its food contents.

Within the hour, two local boys, aged 14 and 15, were arrested at Chafford Hundred Railway Station on suspicion of robbery and are currently being questioned by detectives at Grays police station.

Officers are keen to locate a black thermal pizza delivery bag which has red lettering on it. It is thought to be in the Chafford Hundred area.

Anyone with information in connection with this robbery is urged to contact detectives at Grays police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

SKATEBOARD fans were left heartbroken this morning as a visit to a new park in Purfleet unearthed that it had been severely damaged by fire.

The park at Spiderfields off Tank Hill Road was opened in February 2012 with over £50,000 spent on facilities for skateboarders and parkour enthusiasts.

But when Parkour expert, Rabin Beeloo and colleagues visited the site on Thursday morning, they discovered that a large section had been ravaged by fire.

But Mr Beeloo who has combined his two careers as a family intervention officer with Team Traceur, a parkour and free-running team, will not take this lying down and will be organising a clean-up over the next few weeks.

Once full details are known, YT will publicise the event.

ESSEX Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston has announced half-a-million pounds’ worth of funding for community initiatives to reduce crime.

The £500,000 New Initiatives Fund will be distributed to local groups who feel they can tackle crime in their areas. Schemes can include supporting victims, reducing youth offending, tackling re-offending and combating drug and alcohol abuse.

Mr Alston said: “In sorting out the new budget we have managed to carve out this half-a-million to spend on crime reduction across Essex.

“We can give slices of it to local groups, including young people, if they apply to take on work to make crime less likely in their neighbourhoods.

“When it comes to solving crime, I want to hear from the people – what are their concerns and what do they think can be done about them?”

Anybody interested in applying for money from the fund can call Pamela Standley on 01245 291609 or email pamela.standley@essex.pnn.police.uk

A second man has now been charged with the murder of 35-year-old Liam Holden in Grays on March 10.

Ryan WOOD, age 21, from Godman Road, Chadwell St Mary, was arrested on April 18, charged with murder and appeared before Magistrates in Basildon this morning.

He will next appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, April 22.

Owen Wood, 23 is already charged with Mr Holden’s murder and his next court appearance is on May 13.

POLICE have now charged a man with causing death by careless driving following a fatal road crash in Purfleet last October.

The collision occurred on the A1306 Arterial Road, near the junction with Watts Crescent at about 3.55pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012. The incident involved a white motorcycle, a silver Transit van and a green HGV parked in a lay-by.

The rider of the motorcycle, 40 year old David Dawe from Fyfield Road, Rainham east London, died at the scene. The Transit driver, a 54-year-old man from Purfleet has now been charged and bailed to appear at Basildon Magistrates Court on May 7.

TWO men were arrested by police in South Ockendon around 1.15am on Saturday morning (April 20).

A BMW car failed to stop for police doing a routine stop check and then crashed into a lamp post a short distance away in Daiglen Drive. The driver and passenger received minor injuries and were checked out at hospital before being arrested. The car was badly damaged.

A 23 year old man from South Ockendon was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, failing to stop, dangerous driving and other motoring offences and an 18 year old man from South Ockendon was arrested for drug offences.

They are currently in police custody.

BORDER officials have seized cocaine estimated to have a street value of £17m at Tilbury docks.

The drugs, weighing 370lb (168kg), were found inside seven holdalls which had been placed on top of legitimate cargo of tin alloys in two containers.
The containers arrived from Senegal and were bound for Belgium.

Mark Kennedy, Border Force officer at Tilbury, said: “This will have severely damaged the illegal business of those involved.”

The government agency said the drugs were found on 15 March, but the details had not been made public for operational reasons.

Mr Kennedy said: “There was no elaborate concealment – the holdalls had simply been placed on top of the legitimate cargo to allow the smugglers easy access.

“Their plan would have been to break into the canvas-topped containers, remove the drugs, fit a replacement seal and get away very quickly leaving no evidence that they’d ever been there.

“Although ultimately bound for Belgium, there is no doubt that the drugs would have spread further afield and a large chunk would almost certainly have found its way back to the UK.”

A THURROCK teenager was the main subject of a BBC documentary The Prisoners.

Jade West (18) was followed by the BBC film crew as she tried to break a cycle of offending.

Jade, a former student at the Chafford Hundred Campus (now Harris Academy Chafford) was first seen in a distressed state in HMP Holloway, where she is seen trying to kill herself.

Jade then returned to Thurrock, where she visited her nan in Corringham before she returned home to Stanford House in East Tilbury.

Jade explained to the BBC that she is estranged from her mother who “Was also in and out of jail.”

However, Jade was soon back in jail as she breached her probation. This appears to be because she finds it difficult to get to Grays probation services from East Tilbury for a 11am appointment.

Jade is documented going into meltdown with another series of suicide attempts.

Throughout the film, Jade is aware of her behaviour and conscious that she is letting people down.

Jade returned to the streets of Grays where the cameras juxtaposed her writing a touching letter to the prison wardens with an increase in her drinking habits.

Jade is filmed at a meeting with her probation officers in Grays, where drunk, she discusses her alcoholism with her officer, Jane Palmer.

Jade issues a torrent of abuse at her officer and then storms out.

Jade defiantly said: “If I want to spend the rest of my life in prison, I will.”

Jade is last seen returning to HMP Holloway after a catalogue of crimes in Thurrock.

Jade said: “I always take the easy way out.”

Update: Witness now traced.

DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a man in Grays are looking to identify a potential key witness who could help with their investigation.

Liam Holden was out with friends at the Euro Lounge on Saturday, March 9 before he was assaulted in a car park near Morrisons on London Road at 2:30am on Sunday, March 10. The 35-year-old man from Brook Court in Grays was conveyed to Romford’s Queens Hospital but sadly died a short time later.

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Lucy Robinson, said: “We’re still looking to identify people who can assist with the investigation which is far from over. We have examined hours of CCTV and believe this man can help us a witness. He could potentially have information which can help enhance our enquiry. We would ask people to look closely at the description and contact us if they know who he is. Indeed, we would like to hear from the man himself.”

He is described as white, was wearing a body-warmer and a white-patterned T-shirt. The CCTV image was taken at the Euro Lounge just minutes before the murder.

Anyone with information in connection with this murder investigation or who knows the identity of the man described is urged to contact detectives at Harlow’s Major Investigation Team on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A 33-year-old man from South Ockendon has been charged with failing to stop a vehicle for police and failing to provide a specimen following a police pursuit.

The incident happened in Ship Lane, Aveley, in the early hours of Friday April 19.

He has been bailed to appear before Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Saturday May 4.

POLICE ACTED swiftly to stop a fight between four people in Grays High Street on Thursday afternoon.

The incident occurred on the main precinct opposite the TSB Lloyds.

A police spokesperson said: “Police attended after a call reported a disturbance. A 45-year-old male was arrested and was conveyed to Grays police station.

POLICE are stepping up patrols around south Essex to deal with illegal ‘road racing’ by drivers who are risking their lives and the lives of race spectators.

Officers from the Essex Police Casualty Reduction Section are taking tough action against rogue drivers who race and perform stunts at gatherings that attract hundreds of car enthusiasts.

Sgt Simon Willsher, who is leading Operation Wagtail, the force’s response to road racing, said: “We have no problems with the hundreds of enthusiasts who enjoy getting together at cruiser events to show off their pride and joy motors and talk about their passion for cars.

“Our concern is about the reckless minority who race on roads that are not built for racing and are travelling at high speed with spectators only a few inches away from them.

“It is only a matter of time before one of these cars goes out of control and causes fatalities or serious injuries.”

Weekend patrols are now being increased around Lakeside, Basildon and Canvey, all areas where cruisers have congregated in the past few years. But the team of officers will be able to quickly get to any other locations in the county whenever problems are reported.

Plans are also in place to attend an event being planned for the Braintree area and an event planned for Lakeside on May 4.

Sgt Willsher added: “Local residents and the genuine enthusiasts at the cruiser events are sick and tired of the way the racers take over, cause noise nuisance and put lives in danger.

“They don’t seem to realise that they can get an automatic ban if they go to court for road racing or careless driving. But we will certainly be using all available legislation which allows us to summons offenders to court or have their cars seized.

“We obviously won’t disclose our tactics, however anyone considering flouting traffic laws and selfishly putting others at risk should be aware that many of our cars are video-equipped and we won’t hesitate to put them before the courts, where the magistrates will see their reckless driving and sentence accordingly.”

At a race event at Lakeside on Saturday April 20 eight drivers were reported for careless driving or road racing, three were reported for being uninsured, eight were given verbal warnings for various offences, 18 were given fixed penalty fines of £30 for causing unnecessary obstructions, four drivers were dealt with for speeding, three drivers were stopped for using mobile phones and numerous Section 59 warnings were issued. The Section 59 legislation allows police to take further action and seize cars for any further similar offences.

A WOMAN has been racially abused by a group of six or seven men on a train between Rainham and Purfleet.

It happened on the 10.35pm service from London Fenchurch Street to Grays on Saturday, April 20.

PC Gary Martin, investigating, wants to speak to anyone who saw or heard what took place: The victim, a 21-year-old woman from Purfleet, boarded the train at West Ham at 10.44pm.

“Whilst on board, she was approached and abused by a group of six or seven men, who made racial insults towards her.

“It is believed they boarded the train at Rainham shortly before 11pm and stayed on the train after she left at Purfleet.

“Understandably, this person was left very shaken and upset by this encounter, and we will do everything in our power to find those responsible.”

Officers are currently looking at CCTV of the journey and speaking to witnesses, and want to hear from anyone on the train involved as part of the investigation.

A 32-year-old man who seriously assaulted and neglected a four-month-old baby boy has been jailed for eight years.

Darran Brown, of Long Lane, Grays, Essex, was found guilty following a trial at Guildford Crown Court.

He was charged with child neglect and grievous bodily harm towards the child at a property in Leatherhead, Surrey.

Det Con James Chapman, from Surrey Police, said Brown committed a “cruel and violent act on an innocent child”.

Hospital staff contacted police after the boy was admitted in a critical condition with serious head and facial injuries in April 2011.

Police said the injuries he suffered mean he will never live an independent life.

Det Con Chapman said: “This was a cruel and violent act on an innocent child who was unable to defend himself against a grown man and although this sentence will never undo the damage caused by this man it will make sure people are protected from him for some time.

“Crimes against our most vulnerable members of society are inexcusable.”

THE NEW chief constable of Essex Police will receive a yearly salary of more than £190,000, it has been announced.

Police and Crime Commissioner Nick Alston said Chf Con Stephen Kavanagh’s total remuneration package, including allowances, would be £192,153 per year. He is due to take over his new role next Tuesday (May 7).

Mr Alston said: “Stephen Kavanagh is an exceptional police officer who currently holds an important position as Deputy Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police Service.

“During the selection process, Stephen’s passion to lead Essex Police for a full four years and to serve the people of Essex was crystal clear.

“We had an outstanding field of candidates, of whom Stephen was the very best. Therefore, I have decided to use the discretion given to me under the legislation to ensure that Stephen is remunerated at the top end of the agreed national range.

“Essex Police is one of the largest employers in Essex, and I find it hard to imagine a more important job than keeping us all safe. I am confident that Stephen will work tirelessly on behalf of the people of Essex.”

The remuneration for Chief Constables is subject to the provisions of the Police Act 1996, the Police Regulations 2003 and subsequent amendments, and determinations by the Secretary of State.

Police and Crime Commissioners have the power to set the Chief Constable’s basic pay within a plus or minus ten percent range, but only at the time the appointment is made.

TWO men have been jailed in connection with theft of post in Surrey, Essex, Hertfordshire and Berkshire.

Victor Odesola, 40, of Bradbourne Road in Grays and Olukayode Akinleye, 34, both admitted conspiracy to defraud at Guildford Crown Court.

Odesola was sentenced to 33 months in prison and Akinleye, of Riverside Road in Romford, east London, was sentenced to nine months in prison.

Bank and credit cards were fraudulently used after the thefts, police said.

Residents lost nearly £200,000 as a result, the Surrey Police spokesman added.

The spokesman said the men’s convictions related to the theft of mail in the Woking, Weybridge, Caterham, Reigate and Warlingham areas of Surrey, and in Essex, Hertfordshire and Berkshire.

Det Con Oliver Cummings, from Surrey Police, said the investigation into the pair’s activities had taken more than 15 months.

“Their criminal activities have caused members of the public immense distress and inconvenience,” he said.