POLICE were called to reports of a disturbance in The Dashes.

A police spokesperson said: “We were called shortly after 11.30pm on Saturday, October 27 with reports of a group of people causing a disturbance in The Dashes, Harlow.

“It was reported items were being thrown and fireworks were being lit in the street. One of the fireworks had gone through an open window and caused minor damage.

“We carried out a search but could not find the suspects.

“Anyone with information is asked to call the Harlow local policing team on 101”.

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A MAN who gave false information to police in connection with eight speeding offences has been banned from driving and given a suspended jail term.

Four cars and a van connected to Sonmez Kaya had activated speed cameras on eight occasions in May 2012, July 2012, September 2014, August 2017 and October 2017.

On each occasion it was claimed the driver was one of Kaya’s associates who lived abroad and had used the vehicles for business whilst in the UK.

Notices were sent to the name and address given for the alleged driver, explaining he would be prosecuted for speeding. But these were never responded to.

Police enquiries found the man had left the UK in 1995 and had not returned to the country since, so could not have been the driver.

Kaya, 55, of Penshurst, Old Harlow, Harlow pleaded guilty to two counts of perverting the course of justice at Chelmsford Crown Court on September 12 and was sentenced on October 19.

He was sentenced to a nine month jail term suspended for 18 months and must complete 250 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £500 costs and banned from driving for 18 months.

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THREE people were arrested after suspected drugs and firearms were found during a search of a house in Roydon.

A police spokesperson said: “We carried out a warrant under Misuse of Drugs Act at an address off Water Lane on Friday, October 26.

Suspected class A drugs and what appeared to be a handgun and a rifle were found.

A large sum of cash was also seized.

“Two men aged 23 and 28 from Islington and a 24-year-old woman from Sidcup were arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply, possession of firearms offences and money laundering.

“They have been released on bail until November 18 while we continue our enquiries.

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Driver jailed for breaking police officer’s leg

A MAN from Harlow has been jailed for two years after intentionally driving his car at an on-duty police officer, resulting in her breaking her leg.

Jack Mitchell, 19, of Kingsmoor Road, Harlow, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court (Friday) after previously pleading guilty to dangerous driving with intent to cause serious injury in relation to the incident in Sandy on 24 April.

His Honour Judge Richard Foster sentenced Mitchell to two years and three months for this offence, and a further three months for a separate dangerous driving offence in Essex. Due to Mitchell’s age, and personal mitigation, the sentence was reduced to two years. Mitchell also received a two-year driving ban, to come into effect once his sentence is served. He must also take an extended driving test.

We had initially been responding to reports of concern for the welfare of an 18-year-old woman, with the support of the National Police Air Service.

While dealing with the incident, PC Hayley Robinson and another officer encountered a black Audi A5 in Sunderland Road, which they then approached as part of their enquiries.

The Audi drove at the officers, who attempted to take cover in their marked police vehicle before they were hit. The collision caused serious injury to PC Robinson, breaking her leg, while the second officer was unhurt.

After evading officers and leaving the county, Mitchell was eventually detained in Essex in August.

He had also pleaded guilty to the separate charge of dangerous driving related to an incident in Essex on 26 June and was remanded ahead of being sentenced for both incidents today.

PC Robinson said: “In my 14 years as an officer, and having dealt with numerous difficult and volatile individuals, I have never been so fearful for my own safety and that of my colleagues. I have suffered agonising physical pain but more substantially, emotional distress and anguish throughout my recovery.

“I love my job, however, it’s been a really tough time and I’ve battled hard to get myself back to work to continue to serve Bedfordshire. Mitchell is clearly a dangerous individual who went to extreme efforts to evade officers and I’m glad he has finally been caught and will serve time in prison for his actions.”

Detective Constable Jo Barkat, who led the investigation, said: “Hayley has been incredibly brave throughout this experience, the impact of which clearly goes beyond the physical trauma she suffered at the time.

“Officers were responding to an incident which had nothing to do with Mitchell, and his subsequent actions were not only dangerous, but needless.

“He then went to great lengths to avoid being detained, so I’m glad we were able to trace Mitchell and bring him to justice.

“No one should be put in harm’s way simply for doing their job, and this is a stark warning for anyone who tries to hurt a member of the emergency services; it’s not acceptable, won’t be tolerated, and you will appear before the courts.”

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ESSEX Police would like to talk to Daniel Milne, 27, in connection with harassment investigations.

Milne, who uses the aliases Daniel Milen and Danny Milnes, is around 5ft 8ins, has a tattoo on his wrist and a scar on his other wrist.

Milne has links to Woodford Green area.

Anyone with information is asked to call Harlow police station on 101 or you can report information online by visiting www.essex.police.uk/do-it-online.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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ESSEX Police are contacting 86 drivers after they received information that motorists have turned around on the M11 in Harlow following a collision.

A police spokesperson said: “We received reports of a six vehicle crash at around 1.10pm on Saturday, October 27, between junctions 6 and 7 in Harlow.

“We closed the road for 25 minutes due to the number of vehicles involved. Fortunately no one was seriously injured.

Following the road closure, we received dozens of video clips from vehicle dash cams and peoples’ phones through Safer Essex Road Partnerships’ Extra Eyes campaign.

These clips showed drivers turning around and driving the wrong way up the hard shoulder and slip road.
Adam Pipe, Essex Police’s head of roads policing, said: “Turning around on a road and driving in the other direction is clearly dangerous, there are no excuses.

“You wouldn’t do it in a moving traffic and it’s no different to turning around following a road closure.

“People determined to continue to do this must remember there are extra eyes on our roads. Dash cams are being a common feature in vehicles and passengers can film you using their phones.

“In this instant, the road was closed for this than half an hour. Being inpatient does not pay and 86 drivers face a fine of £100 and three points on their driving licence.”

For more information about SERP’s Extra Eyes campaign please visit: https://saferessexroads.org/extraeyes/extra-eyes-what-next/.

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ESSEX Police are appealing for information following a fatal collision on the M11 near Stansted Airport.

A blue Mercedes C350 Sport was in collision with a white Ford Transit van and a Volkswagen Transporter on the northbound stretch between junctions 8 and 8a at around 4.30pm today (Wednesday, October 31).

Sadly the driver of the Mercedes, a man in his 50s, died at the scene.

The driver of the van, a 38 year-old man from Ipswich, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

He is currently in custody.

A spokesperson said: “We need anyone who saw the collision or any of the vehicles in the moments before it took place to come forward.

“If you saw what happened, have dash cam footage or have any other information please call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 quoting incident 808 of October 31.

“You can also email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111”.

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IN June 2012, Estyna Blunnie, a twenty-year-old pregnant lady in Harlow was brutally kicked to death by her ex-fiancé, Tony McLernon, just two days before her due date. Estyna sadly lost her life and doctors were unable to save her baby.

Despite McLernon’s death threats prior to the attack, he was not charged, and police assessed Eystna as being at “medium-risk” of domestic abuse.

On Thursday, Robert Halfon asked an oral question in the House of Commons to Robert Buckland, the Solicitor General, to explain changes in the way that in the way they make decisions and charges in cases of domestic violence to ensure that this does not happen to others. Robert also asked what specialist training is given to solicitors to deal with cases of domestic violence.

Mr Buckland paid tribute to Estnya’s family before telling Mr Halfon that steps have indeed been taken in light of this case. The Solicitor General noted the existence of the Victims’ Right to Review Policy; the use of local scrutiny and inclusions panels to consider violence against women and girls cases; and the new offence of coercive control, which can capture cumulative abusive behaviour by one partner against another.

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2018-11-01/debates/1BDBE1DD-26E0-4FD1-845B-ACA54D47A33E/DomesticAbuseVictims

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THREE men have pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in connection with an alleged incident at the Elizabeth Way Caravan Site, Harlow, on September 29.

Michael O’Brien, 44, of River Way, Harlow, Charlie Fowler, 21, of Elizabeth Way and Sonny Waterfield also of Elizabeth Way, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court today, November 1.

All have been remanded and a trial date set for April 2019.

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Have you seen Chunsar Man?

The 64-year-old, who was last known to be living in Harlow, is wanted for failing to appear at court to face charges of assault by beating and threatening a person with a blade in a public place.

The alleged incidents took place in Harlow in June.

Anyone who knows of his whereabouts is asked to call PC Adam Piatczak at Harlow Police Station on 101.

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A DISPERSAL order has been put in place in Harlow from 6pm on Sunday, November 4, in response to a planned car cruise.

It will run until 6am on Monday, November 5 and follows concerns there may be anti-social behaviour, including loud music and dangerous and erratic driving.

Sergeant Kevin Mayle, of the Harlow Community Policing Team, said: “We’re putting the dispersal order in place because residents have raised concerns about the erratic driving, noise, large crowds and anti-social behaviour at previous meets in retail parks in the town.

“This has affected the quality of life for local residents and has also impacted on local businesses.”

The dispersal order gives our officers the power to order people causing anti-social behaviour to leave these areas.

It is a criminal offence to breach a direction given under a dispersal order and in the worst cases this can result in a criminal conviction punishable by up to six months imprisonment or a fine of up to £5,000.

The dispersal order covers the area shown in the attached map.

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ESSEX Police has charged a man with racially aggravated harassment, criminal damage, assaulting police officers and possession of drugs following an incident in Harlow.

Richard Holland, 31, of Potter Street, Harlow, is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, January 16.

It follows a disturbance at a pub in Kitson Way at around 7pm on Saturday, November 3. A man was arrested at the scene.

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ESSEX Police would like to speak to this group of people in connection with a theft in Harlow.

The victim, a woman aged in her 80s, had just left Aldi in First Avenue at 10.50am on September 14, when she was approached by three people who asked for a note to be changed.

The woman checked her purse and, on her way home, realised that her debit card was missing.

Withdrawals were later made from her account.

If you have any information about the identities of these people, please call the Harlow Local Policing Team on 101 quoting crime reference number 42/133368/18.

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BLACK boxes are to be installed in Essex Police cars as a condition of a new car insurance policy.

Officers will be electronically monitored behind the wheel as part of the new policy that is costing the force around £1.9m.

This is £1.4m more than the previous insurance policy that ended on September 30, which cost £500,000.

The huge increase is equivalent to the cost of around 45 police officers and is one of several expensive items Essex Police is being faced with as it heads into its budget setting for next year.

Black box insurance means a car is fitted with a small ‘black box’ device, about the size of a smartphone, which records speed, distance travelled and the time of day or night that it’s on the road.

The device also assesses a driving style by monitoring braking and cornering.

Black boxes are often fitted to new, young and inexperienced drivers.

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, has said the increase in the cost of the policy is due to a number of factors.

He said: “Essex Police is a member of the SEERPIC consortium, the South East and Eastern Region Police Insurance Consortium.

“SEERPIC negotiates a number of different insurance policies – including motor, property, public liability etc. – for the ten forces in the consortium: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex and Thames Valley.

“The previous motor policy ended on September 30 and had an annual cost for Essex Police of £500,000.

“The new policy commenced on October 1 and there has been an increase of around £1.4m.

“To date, SEERPIC Forces have not received the final invoices and are, therefore, unable to confirm the exact cost.

“As mentioned above, the increase is due to numerous factors, not just the number or nature of claims.

“Other factors include the insurance market itself and the desire to insure a blue light risk.

“All Forces within SEERPIC have seen an increase in their motor premiums at varying percentages, with Essex Police seeing the third lowest percentage increase of the ten.

“As part of the new contract, our insurers have set out risk management conditions which must be complied with over the next 12 months.

“These include for example, the use of telematics and driver metrics psychometric assessments.

“SEERPIC will, therefore, be working closely with the insurer and internal departments in order to comply with these conditions and improve the risk.”

Planned increases in the number of police officers could be derailed due to substantial financial pressures, including a tripling of the force’s car insurance premiums, Essex’s crime commissioner has warned.

At a meeting with Essex County Council, the crime commissioner raised the spectre of a large precept increase next year to pay for a raft of fiscal challenges, including a £175m overshoot on a nationwide police IT programme that could be top sliced from force budgets and pension demands.

Essex Police paid for 150 new police officers due to start in January from the £12 increase in the force’s part of council tax from April.

However, Mr Hirst wanted to almost double that number to a total of 290 through another £12 precept increase, taking the total number to around 3,140, through an extra investment of around £15 million.

He has warned that financial pressures could hit those plans hard.

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Dear Harlow Council, Mr Halfon, Church Langley & Essex councillors.

Over the last three days starting at approximately 6pm on Monday Church Langley residents have been subject to a crime wave.

This involves two individuals on foot approaching cars and vans on driveways and being broken into. It’s apparent that these two individuals are not bothered about the amount they’re taking and will break in for anything from change, headphones to work-tools and property keys.

On 5/11/18 we caught a young male acting suspiciously by the side of my car. The car had its security lights on which indicates someone tried to open my car door which my wife had to approach alone. At this point I proceeded to contact 101 (none-emergency) whilst also adding it to the Church Langley residents Page on Facebook. Unfortunately 101 was so busy I was given a call back request. As we waited for a call back I witnessed the FB reports of cars being broken into, sightings and residents concerned for there property & safety. As the updates continued it was evident that an up to date timeline of mayhem and current locations were visible. I made a note of this to feedback to 101.

I waited a further 1hr 30mins before I received a call back at which point I gave all the information and current locations. I was informed at the time that the case would be filed with no further action and if I could provide CCTV with a clear face this would reopen the case. CCTV was given by a neighbour.

Forward to today (Wednesday 7th, November 2018) Church Langley has had a third day of possible sittings of the same individuals and crime with no evidence of high visibility police and I fear we will spend a further night of worry to whether we have transport, tools, equipment to attend work in the morning.

I invite you to visit ‘Join If You Live In Church Langley’ Facebook page where you can view for yourselves the concerns of over 2.1k residents reporting on the mayhem during this week.

One resident has said this is so bad that a suggestion of Church Langley funding our own Security Firm to patrol our community, referring to Frinton Sea Side Resort as a model.

Another number of residents are now patrolling the streets within their cars or on foot.

I would like to make it clear that this is not a complaint against our police force as they are clearly inadequately supported financially and do not have the capacity to deal with such an incident.

What I do want to know is what you as an MP, elected councillors and council are doing now, today to stop this criminal activity which is impacting the whole of Church Langley from Tesco’s to Ridgeways.

Regards

Mr P Liddle
Church Langley Resident

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ESSEX Police are investigating following an incident in Harlow where a man was stabbed.

The victim, a man in his 50s, was assaulted by four people in The Chantry at around 5.50pm on Friday, November 9.

During the incident he suffered a stab wound to his back which is not life-threatening.

Enquiries are ongoing.

If you have any information about the incident please call us on 101 quoting the crime reference number 42/163927/18 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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ESSEX Police are investigating following an incident in Harlow where a man was assaulted and had his phone stolen.

It was reported the victim was approached by two people with a knife in Taylifers at around 8.30pm on Sunday, November 11.

He was taken to hospital with injuries to his face.

If you have any information about the incident please call us on 101 quoting incident 1151 of November 11 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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A WOMAN was the victim of a frightening car-jacking in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We received reports that a woman was robbed of her vehicle in Hansells Mead, Roydon, at around 5.30am today, Tuesday, November 13.

The woman reported that she got out of her vehicle, a Nissan Qashqai, after it was struck by another car.

As she went to look at the damage to her car, a man got into her vehicle and drove off causing her to fall over.

The woman was taken to hospital with cuts to her face.

Anyone with information is asked to call Loughton police station on 101 quoting crime reference 42/165726/18 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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FIVE suspected drug dealing gangs have been shut down by Essex Police with the arrest of 24 people during a day of action in Epping Forest District.

Acting on information from the community, Essex Police launched an investigation in May this year targeting so-called ‘county line’ drug dealing gangs in the Debden, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Limes Farm and Hainault areas of the district.

The gangs are believed to be involved in the supply of Class A drugs and thought to make roughly in the region of £3,000 per day from the sale of illegal substances.

Supported by Epping Forest District Council, who also provided £5,000 towards the cost of the policing operation, Essex Police began investigating the gangs and building a picture on key members.

The six-month probe culminated today, Tuesday November 13, with the execution of 19 warrants across the district.

In total 24 people have been arrested on suspicion of offences ranging from possession of drugs, to possession with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of drugs.

The operation was jointly led by Essex Police’s West local policing teams and Operation Raptor.

Chief Insp Lewis Basford, District Commander for Brentwood and Epping Forest District, said: “Essex Police has continued to take the fight to the gangs and individuals attempting to sell drugs on our streets.

“As long as people continue to attempt to sell drugs in our county we will continue to hunt them down and bring them to justice and, if that takes days or, as in this case, an operation that runs for months, we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of them.

“We have seen some excellent results today with the arrest of 24 people, who are all suspected of being involved in drug supply, as well as the seizure of a significant amount of drugs and cash.

“I would like to reassure the residents of Epping Forest District that where we receive information that criminals, gangs or drug dealers are active in their area we will, as today shows, act on that.

“I would also like to send a clear message to drug dealers and criminals that they are not welcome on the streets of Epping Forest District or Essex.”

Epping Forest District Council supported Essex Police during the six month operation. Councillor Sam Kane, Cabinet member for community safety congratulated Chief Inspector Basford and his team. He said: “This operation has been long in the preparation and swift in the execution. It involved months of painstaking work by brave and dedicated men and women.

“It shows the real results we can achieve working together and I am very proud of the support we have been able to give Essex Police leading up to today’s action.

“Police and councillors really care about our district. This operation had to be carried out away from public view to enable officers to do their job and I am especially sympathetic to Inspector Basford.

“Local residents frequently ask what the Police and the Council are doing to fight crime and he has held his tongue many times in local meetings.

“We all can now appreciate why it’s not always possible to tell people everything happening behind the scenes. Hopefully our residents will sleep easier in their beds tonight knowing a little more of the hidden work by brave men and women to keep them safe.

Essex Police set up Operation Raptor teams in the North, South and West of the county to tackle drug and gang-related crime.

If you have information about drug or gang-related crime in your community contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

All 24 people remain in custody

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AN investigation into an investment fraud that saw victims invest money into fake companies involved with the diamond and binary trade industries has concluded.

At Basildon Crown Court, Tim Radford-Mathurin, 31, a broker, of Pyms Road, Chelmsford, pleaded guilty to converting criminal property. He is due to be sentenced on Thursday, December 13.

Radford-Mathurin was the last person out of a group of 12 people to be convicted for his role in scams involving 28 victims and investments of between £400,000 and £450,000.

In 2015, we received complaints from investors who had been defrauded out of significant sums of cash by two companies.

They were cold called by people working for Bridgewater Associates Ltd and RSD Assets Ltd, who claimed to make profits in the sale of coloured diamonds and online binary products.

These companies ran from late 2014 and February 2016.

The victims were sent professional-looking brochures, purchase agreements and registration forms, sometimes even before they had agreed to buy.

When they invested into the diamond scheme, they were sent reports that gave details to show the authenticity of the specific diamond purchased. This scam was given a further air of authenticity by the fact that there is an established company in the USA and the fraudsters had used their logo.

When they invested in the binary options, victims were told that their funds would be traded on their behalf in various different markets, including coffee and currency. They were given password-access to a website where they could watch the progress of their trades and see whether they were making or losing money.

The investors told police that when they spoke to brokers they believed they were talking to the same person but under a different name. When victims made enquiries about their investments, they were often lied to or ignored.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Morton, of Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “Following a three-year long investigation into these complex boiler room frauds, the final defendant in the case has been convicted.

“The fraud involved a sophisticated plan that targeted victims who were looking to experiment with their hard earned money by making investments in different avenues.

“They cold called, sent them professional brochures and they were given access to websites that purportedly allowed them to monitor their investments. Little did they know that the companies involved were fake and were run by criminals wanting to fund lavish lifestyles.

“I want to thank the victims for their patience, co-operation and support and I hope the conclusion of this case offers some justice to their victims.”

Peter Domokos, 40, Grove Lea, Hatfied, and Nicholas Canty, 30, of Forest Ridge, Keston, are due to be sentenced for money laundering.

The following people have been sentenced for their involvement in the fraud:

George Herron, 26, of Firsgrove Crescent, Brentwood, was jailed for two years and eight months after admitting two counts of conspiracy to defraud;

Samuel Jeal, 24, of Westmoreland Road, Bromley, was jailed for three years and six months after being found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to defraud;

Christopher Kirk, 26, a broker, of Brooker Raod, Waltham Abbey, was jailed for two years and four months following a trial for conspiracy to defraud;

Rakeem Dixon, 25, of Paddock Mead, Harlow, received 18 months for money laundering following a trial;

Michael Hassini, 24, of Danes Way, Pilgrims Hatch, received 15 months suspended for 18 months and 200 hours unpaid work for money laundering;

Thomas Mead, 24, of Foxglove Avenue, Beckenham, received 12 months suspended for 18 months and 200 hours unpaid work for money laundering;

Christopher White, 30, of Ayr Green, Romford, and Muhammed Bah, 29, of Eastbourne Road, East Ham, received 10 month suspended sentenced and 200 hours unpaid work for money laundering;

Amy Palmer, 27, of Windsor Drive, Orpington, received a 12-month community order for money laundering.

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