POLICE in Thurrock are issuing a CCTV of a man wanted for questioning in connection with the theft of meat from the Co Op in Aveley in April. Several joints of pork and beef were taken on three separate occasions between April 11-15.

The suspect is described a white man, aged in his early 20s with short, dark brown hair and was carrying a large blue holdall which he concealed the items in, making no effort to pay.

Anyone who can name the man in the photo is asked to contact Pc Paul Lamb at Grays police station on 101.

A MAN was taken to Basildon Magistrates Court this morning (Friday June 7) charged with breaching a restraining order and other offences following an incident in Corringham yesterday.

Brett Adams (24) from Burntmills Road, North Benfleet is charged with harassment, assault by beating, a public order offence and obstructing a police officer.

DELAYS TO a £32 million IT project has angered the leader of the Essex Police Federation.

Operation Athena is a £32 million system that will enable a number of forces to share intelligence.

Chairman of Essex Police Federation, Mark Smith questioned the expense.

He told the Echo: “We need to get it working and up and running, but I do have concerns. You try to be optimistic and hope the money has not been wasted.

“But we have lost officers, staff, the mounted unit, police stations and if we have more cuts in the second comprehensive spending review due later this month, then it is a risk putting money in if it never works.”

Essex Police refused to confirm how much the force was paying for it – although it could be more than £5 million over ten years.

IT systems have become more and more important to policing ever since the search for the Yorkshire Ripper was seen as severely hampered by using a manual card system. A system called HOLMES was introduced after that and IT has becoming increasingly important after that.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “As with any large project, there are a number of stages before it can go live.

“Inevitably there are issues which can cause delays. However we are confident the project will be delivered.”

Essex Police also defended their decision to spend the money on the system. The spokesman added: “Project Athena is one of the largest ever joint police projects.

“The new system will help forces to manage criminal investigations better, reduce cost and, most importantly, create a safer environment for local people.

“Athena will allow police officers and staff to see the whole picture relating to incidents and the people involved.”

A MAN is due to appear in court later this month (June) after having been charged with a string of motoring offences following a road crash in South Ockendon.

The collision happened when a the driver of a BMW 328 appears to have lost control of the car while travelling along Daiglen Drive shortly after 1am on Saturday, April 20 and struck a lamp post.

Both male occupants of the car, who lived in South Ockendon, were arrested, with 19-year-old unemployed Alfie Wood from Moss Road later charged with one count of being in possession of Class A drugs. He appeared at Basildon Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 9.

On Friday, June 7, 23-year-old unemployed Craig Taylor from Humber Avenue was charged with one count of driving while disqualified, one count of dangerous driving, one count of failing to stop for police, one count of driving while unfit through drink and one count of driving without insurance.

He is currently on police bail prior to his appearance at Basildon Magistrates Court on Monday, June 24.

FIVE would-be illegal immigrants have been stopped from entering the country after Border Force officers found them hiding inside a lorry which was bound for an address in Purfleet.

The five men, all from Albania, were discovered at around 1.15am at the Port of Coquelles on 28 May when Border Force officers, along with sniffer dog Louis, searched the Italian-registered lorry as it waited to board a ferry to the UK.

The truck was carrying a mixed load of goods bound for addresses in Long Lane, Stanwell; Main Street, Pymoor; and Stonehouse Lane, Purfleet.

The stowaways were handed over to the French border police and the vehicle was allowed to continue onto its destinations.

Paul Morgan, Border Force Director for South East & Europe, said:

“This incident shows why we base Border Force staff in France – to stop would-be illegal immigrants before they can reach the UK.

“Our strong presence in French ports like Coquelles and close collaboration with the French authorities helps protect the whole of the UK from people attempting to enter the country illegally.

“As well as using sniffer dogs, officers also use heartbeat detectors, carbon dioxide probes and physical searches to find people hiding in vehicles”.

A leaflet, issued by the Border Force, in partnership with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), gives information and advice to lorry drivers transporting freight to and from the UK on how to prevent illegal immigration and avoid becoming victims of crime.

EXCLUSIVE

ESSEX FIRE Service is at the centre of a historic “sex abuse” investigation.

YT understands that, earlier this year, fire service bosses were made aware of allegations of, what they described, as “potential criminal activity” within the service.

It is understood that the matters are historic, relating to alleged assaults within fire stations in the 1970′ and 1980′s.

YT also understands that some of the assaults may have been centred around “initiation ceremonies”  and may have had a “sexual dimension” to them.

The alleged assaults are believed to have occurred at stations through the county but including Tilbury fire station (which has now closed down).

The allegations have been passed onto Essex Police.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We received a referral from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) to the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate in relation to a historic accusation of a serious criminal activity within ECFRS.

“A number of people have been interviewed but at this stage, no-one has been arrested.

“The investigation is on-going and so Essex Police cannot make any further comment at this sensitive stage.

“If anyone feels they may be able to assist, then they are asked to contact the major investigation team at Harlow Police station on 01279 621802.”

YT did ask Essex Police whether the “serious criminal activity” involved physical and/or sexual nature but they declined to comment.

The ECFRS  has advised officers to “co-operate fully” with the police but has also asked them not to “draw conclusions” in relation to anyone interviewed by the police.

The fire service has offered counselling to colleagues and have also set up a 24-hour confidential hotline.

A spokesperson for Essex County Fire said: “During an internal investigation, senior managers at ECFRS were made aware of allegations of potential criminal activity within the Service.

“These matters were alleged to have happened some time ago, but due to their serious nature and following clear legal advice, managers referred the matter to Essex Police.

“Since then, the Service has been co-operating fully with the Police inquiry and has advised staff to do the same. While this investigation continues, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”

A MAN from Grays has started a four year jail term for distributing indecent images of children.

Craig Brash, 26, of Stanley Road, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Friday (June 21). He was found guilty by a jury at his trial in May of 10 counts relating to making and distributing indecent images of children via the internet.

Brash received a four year custodial sentence with a two year extended period after being considered a dangerous offender. He received a Sexual Offences Prevention Order that will last 10 years.

The court heard that police recovered chat logs that highlighted horrific acts that he wanted to carry out and that he had more 100,000 indecent child images on his computer.

Detective Inspector Lee Morton, from Essex Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team, was in charge of the case. He said: “Brash was an extremely devious individual who posed a significant danger to the most vulnerable people in society – young children. His offending continued while this investigation was on going and he had no regard for the effects that child pornography had on its victims.”

DETECTIVES are appealing for information following two robberies on elderly people at ATMs on Grays High Street.

The first offence happened inside HSBC when a man was pushed to one side shortly after 10am on Tuesday, June 25 and had his cash stolen from the machine. The elderly man left the bank before police arrived and so he is still yet to be identified and located. The thief ran off.

The second robbery happened at the nearby Natwest Bank, also on the high street, shortly before 11am when an elderly woman was also extracting money from the outside ATM. She was approached by a man who also pushed her to one side and stole a three-figure sum of cash.

Investigating Officer, Dc Louise Martin, said: “These robberies have been captured on camera so we will be looking to see if we can identify the man who we believe committed both robberies. We would urge anyone who saw these attacks and has yet to be spoken to by us to contact the police station.”

The thief is described as black, aged in his 30s, is approximately six foot tall and was wearing a black baseball cap, black tracksuit top and white trainers.

Neither elderly individual were injured during their attacks.

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

THE FORMER chief executive of Grays Athletic, who, it is claimed, glorified his links to a notorious hooligan group, tried to set up a clash between Millwall and West Ham fans, the Old Bailey heard on Tuesday.

Andrew (Andy) Swallow, allegedly plotted to organise ‘mass violence’ on the day of an FA Cup 3rd round match.

The plan was thwarted by the presence of police officers with camcorders and any fighting was restricted to isolated outbreaks, it is claimed.

When Swallow was arrested police found a photograph of a group of men in front of a large banner reading ‘ICF 30 years undefeated’ – referring to the West Ham group known as the Inter City Firm.

Prosecutor James Lofthouse said: ‘As such he was glorifying his association with the ICF.’

Swallow is now standing trial alongside two fellow West Ham supporters, Shane Flexon, 26, and Shaun Sheridan, 25, and a Millwall fan, Aidan Andrews, 41, accused of conspiring to commit violent disorder.

Mr Lofthouse, opening the case, told jurors: ‘Organised football violence is what we say these four men were involved in that day – an attempt to plan and participate in mass violence between groups of Millwall and West Ham supporters.

‘Because of the visible presence of police officers with camcorders these plans were largely frustrated.

‘None of these four defendants were involved in any violence that day but they planned violence and they planned to be part of it.’

Mr Lofthouse said there was a ‘history of animosity’ between Millwall and West Ham and both teams had a history of football-related violence.

He added: ‘It is much rarer for any violence to take place at the actual ground. Those areas tend to be far more heavily policed.

‘Therefore it is commonplace for the leaders of rival groups to communicate before games to try and arrange a venue for a fight.’

It is claimed the four men decided to arrange a fight on the day Millwall travelled to Dagenham and Redbridge for the third round’s FA Cup tie on January 7 last year.

‘It was an opportunity for organised violence and was likely to be less intensively policed than a match between West Ham and Millwall,’ said Mr Lofthouse.

Text messages found on Sheridan’s phone revealed the attempts to arrange the fight, it is claimed.

The day before the match Sheridan texted his friends to say: ‘They are defo coming’.

Flexon replied: ‘Yeah, cheeky c***s, lol’, while Swallow messaged: ‘So what? So are we.’

On the day of the match Sheridan referred to Millwall fans being ‘run off’ at the Eastbrook pub in Dagenham and accused Andrews of staying at a ‘Barking commercial pub with CCTV all over’.

He also allegedly texted Andrews to say: ‘The mighty Millwall got run – at least you showed. Top boy.’

Sheridan later messaged his friends: ‘Delete all, I’m about to get nicked.’

The prosecutor told the court: ‘This is not banter, it is a snapshot of organised agreement.’

Sheridan was seen by police with a large group of West Ham fans at a Dagenham working men’s club before the game, the court heard.

Jurors heard Swallow was also at the club before the game and left when police arrived.

During the match he was seen to give a signal to 20 other fans to leave before the group headed to the Eastbrook pub, it is claimed.

Four months earlier on September 17, 2011, he was caught on film making a stabbing gesture to Millwall fans at a game between Millwall and West Ham.

Mr Lofthouse said: ‘This is no doubt reference to a stabbing of a Millwall supporter at a West Ham-Millwall match in 2009.’

When he was arrested on February 3, 2012, he replied: ‘That’s rubbish.’

Swallow took over at Grays in 2009 but resigned last month. The club, who have been groundless since 2010, were recently promoted to the Ryman League Premier Division.

Swallow, of (Flat 602) Michigan House, Biscayne Avenue, Blackwall, east London, Flexon, of (75) College Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, Andrews of (73) Prospect House, St James Square, Bermondsey and Sheridan of (Flat 17) Stansfield House, Longfield Estate, Bermondsey, all deny conspiring to commit violent disorder.

The trial continues.

THREE people have been arrested in connection with the assault of a man inside a property in Murchison Close, Chelmsford on June 25.

A 39-year-old man from Chelmsford has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, as has a 47-year-old man from Grays. A 36-year-old woman from Chelmsford has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

All are currently in custody having been arrested last night, Tuesday, June 25.

DETECTIVES are renewing their appeal for witnesses to a series of high street ATM robberies in Grays.

The three attacks on elderly people happened between 10-11am on Tuesday, June 25 at HSBC and NatWest. On each occasion, they were pushed out of the way and sums of cash or bank cards were taken from the ATMs leaving each of the victims shocked, but uninjured. The third victim was only discovered by police during their follow-up enquiries at the banks and are anxious to locate any other victims who have not already come forward.

Officers are looking to identify two black men who were involved in Tuesday morning’s robberies. They believe that one acted as a look-out while his accomplice carried out the physical crime.

Investigating Officer, DI Tracy Wheeler, said: “The high street is usually a safe place to shop and work so we are looking at these robberies as an isolated series of crimes. Personal security should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds no matter where they live, with extra thought given at cashpoints. We’ve got a good working partnership with the council and there is excellent CCTV coverage. We would ask that any witnesses to the three robberies contact us as they are likely to prove key witnesses.”

The thieves are described as black and are aged in their late 20s.

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

A GRAYS man will appear at Magistrates Court in Chelmsford this morning (Friday, June 28) charged with grievous bodily harm with intent following an assault on a man at a property in Murchison Close, Chelmsford on June 25.

Gary Watts, 47, Manor Road, Grays and Michael Davis, 39, West Avenue, Chelmsford were charged by police last night.

A 36 year old woman from Chelmsford has been released on police bail until August 29.

POLICE have released an EFit and some CCTV stills following a robbery which happened at Lakeside shopping centre, Thurrock.

The robbery happened by the zebra crossing near the open-air carpark by the cinema, at about 3.30pm on Saturday June 15.

Two 15-year-old schoolboys were approached by two men who threatened them into handing over cash and an iPhone4.

The first suspect is white, aged 17 to 18, 6ft 1ins tall, and skinny. He had a big nose and a local accent.

The other suspect is white, aged 17 to 19 years, 6ft tall and slim. He had a small head and a spot on one of his cheeks. He was wearing a dark woollen hat with a bobble on.

BONUSES of £60,000 paid to a top police officer not to leave his force fell “outside” national policing agreements, it is claimed.

The sums – described as retention payments – were made to former Essex Chief Constable Roger Baker reports the BBC.

They were revealed by Essex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Nick Alston who called for a bonuses review.

Robert Chambers, chairman of the police authority which made the payments, said the sums were above board.

The two retention payments were made to Mr Baker – who now serves as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary – in 2008-9 and 2009-10.

Mr Baker has declined to comment on the payments.

But Mr Chambers said: “I, and the police authority at the time, felt very strongly that if we’ve got a chief constable that was going to achieve over and above what was being asked of him, then it was only fair that we come up, or try and come up with a package that reimbursed him for all the hard work and success that he had.

Mr Chambers said he asked the authority whether he could look into paying Mr Baker a “performance bonus”.

He said he spoke to the HM Inspector of Constabulary and took legal advice from two separate barristers before the payments were made.

“If you want the best then you mustn’t take no for an answer. It was a different way of doing it, but I made sure I was within the law.”

But Mr Alston said the payments were “outside the national Police Negotiating Board agreements”.

“Much of the rationale for their decision-making,” said Mr Alston, “is not in the public domain.

“In the interests of transparency and openness my judgement is that, in future, it should be.

“It is a vital part of ensuring the continuation of trust and respect on which our policing tradition is based.”

A TOTAL of 94 drivers were found to be over the limit during Essex Police’s 2013 Summer Anti-Drink Drive campaign.

This year’s campaign ran between June and June 30, 2013 and saw officers out in force across the county taking a zero tolerance approach to those who put lives at risk by choosing to drink and drive.

Of the 2616 drivers breathalysed during that period, a total of 94 (3.59%) were found to be driving over the legal alcohol limit or refused or failed to provide a sample.

Of those found to be over the limit, 21 were aged under 25 and 61 were aged 25 and over. An age breakdown is not available for the remaining 12.

During last year’s Summer Anti-Drink Drive Campaign, which ran at the same time as the European Football Championships throughout the month of June, a total of 2250 drivers were tested and 110 drivers were found to be over the limit. Of those 110, 15 were aged under 25 and 95 were aged 25 or over.

Essex Police deals with drink driving robustly 365 days a year but stepped up road checks in towns across the county with bustling night time economies and rural areas where some drivers believe they have less chance of getting caught drunk behind the wheel.

In the run up to the campaign Essex Police made a plea to drivers, their families, friends and members of the public to take responsibility by reporting drink drivers to Essex Police or anonymously to Crimestoppers.

During the campaign, residents were kept up to date with how many people had been arrested for drink driving with an online totaliser on the Essex Police website www.essex.police.uk/summerdrinkdrive.

Adam Pipe, Casualty Reduction Manager for Essex Police, said: “Sadly some people consider themselves to be above the law and make the decision to get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both. Not only does this put their lives at risk but the lives of their passengers or other innocent road users who drive well within the law. Every year I am disappointed to see that a small minority of people ignore the law and drink and drive.

“Our Summer Anti-Drink Drive campaign came to an end at the end of June but that doesn’t mean our efforts to take drink and drug drivers off the roads of Essex will stop. We won’t tolerate those who drink and drive and will continue to arrest and put them before the courts where they will be brought to justice.

“I would like to thank all of those members of the public who called with information about drink drivers during the campaign, especially those from Maldon and the surrounding area. We received lots of intelligence that we are confident we’ll be able to take action on.

“As always I want to make a plea to members of the public to help us take dangerous drivers off the roads of Essex by urging them to keep picking up the phone and telling us about individuals who get behind the wheel under the influence. If you don’t feel able to talk to Essex Police, you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. A simple phone call could help save a life.”

Detectives are issuing efits of two men who committed a burglary at a house in south-west Essex which left a mother and son terrified.

The break-in happened at a house near to the junction of Daiglen Drive and Erriff Drive shortly after 10pm on Friday, June 28 when three men entered the property and ransacked it, leaving, after stealing a machete. They did not threaten the woman, who is in her 40s, or her young son.

Investigating Officer, Dc Jenna McQueen, said: “These efits are extremely good and we’re confident that anyone who knows them will recognise them. We need these people, be they friends or relatives, to contact us. We need to arrest all three men to find out who or what they were looking for and prosecute them for burglary.”

All three men are white and aged in their mid-late 20s. One man was wearing a light-grey Adidas sweatshirt, spoke with a London accent.

One man pictured in the efit was wearing a dark hoodie which had tassels while the other man pictured was wearing a tartan flat cap and spoke in an east European accent.

Anyone with information in connection with this burglary or who recognises the men from the efits shown is urged to contact detectives at Grays police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

ESSEX Police’s determination to enhance road safety in the county continued as another operation to tackle dangerous lorry and coach drivers found one driver forced to take an 11-hour break after being on the road for too long.

Operation Tourist was carried at Thurrock’s MOTO Services on Friday, July 5 with 14 lorries and 18 coaches stopped and checked for mechanical roadworthiness and driver hour infringements.

Fines totalling over £1,400 were gathered from the drivers who, between them, had been on the road for 48 hours more than they should have. This, in addition to the one driver forced to stay off the road for 11 hours.

Operation Tourist runs throughout July and so further operations around Essex are planned. The first one took place at Stansted Airport on Tuesday, July 2, with £240 worth of fines gathered for driver hour infringements.

Exclusive

TWO directors of companies associated with the supply of labour to the rail industry have been charged in connection with a suspected VAT and Corporation Tax fraud of more than £5.8 million.

After an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Michael James Woodward (28) from Grays and Richard James Ponsford (35) from Ongar were charged at City of London Magistrates Court today (10 July 2013).

HMRC investigators arrested both men at their home addresses on 31 March 2011 on suspicion of Cheating the Public Revenue contrary to Common Law.

They have been released on bail until 30 July 2013.

A THIRD man has been arrested in connection with an attempted van theft in Purfleet in which a driver was critically injured.

The 24-year-old man from Purfleet was arrested at Grays on Wednesday evening July 10. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Two other men, aged 26 and 28 and both from Purfleet were arrested in Grays at about 2am today, Wednesday July 10. They were also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

All three men have been bailed until September 20 pending further enquiries.

Detectives and road policing officers are still seeking witnesses after an incident at Wood Avenue, Purfleet at about 12.20pm on Tuesday July 9 in which a van driver was run over while trying to stop two men from stealing his van.

The driver, who is in his 50s and from the Havering area, received multiple injuries and remains in a critical condition at Royal London Hospital.

Any witnesses who have not yet contacted police or anyone with information about events leading to the incident should call 101, email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

THREE men appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday (July 11) and were sentenced for burglaries, mainly in the Basildon and Grays area, but also across the county.

Bradley Taylor, aged 19 from Grays area received a 3 1/2 year prison sentence and Daniel Mallett, aged 21 from the Grays and Clacton areas, received a four year sentence.

Daniel Gaylard, age 21 from The Hyde, Langdon Hills, Basildon was jailed for one year for a burglary in Basildon on March 4.

His Hon Judge David Owen–Jones said: “These men have clearly committed a professional burglary campaign, which was planned to fund their self-indulgent lifestyles.”

Both Mallett and Taylor have a history of criminal offences. Detectives worked with the two men and they have then admitted and provided evidence to a string of other burglaries across the county.

Mallett had admitted a further 36 offences in Essex and five in the Metropolitan police area and Taylor provided evidence of 29 other offences and these were taken into consideration by the Judge with his sentencing.

A/Det Insp Gary McNair said: “Without Mallett and Taylor electing to engage with police officers is it unlikely that the bulk of these offences would have been solved. These admissions will bring some closure to the victims of their crimes.”