TACKLING knife crime and getting weapons off our streets will be the focus for Essex Police during a national crackdown, called Operation Sceptre, which starts today, Monday, 11 March.

Operation Sceptre is a week of action that will see all 44 forces in England and Wales, including Essex Police, building on the current work officers are doing to tackle serious violence.

In Essex, Operation Sceptre will kick off a longer period of action designed to target knife crime.

A spokesperson said: “We deal with knife-related crime every day through a combination of enforcement, education and partnership work, and we’ll be highlighting this ongoing work throughout the week.

During the crackdown the force will also target those carrying knives with the intention to use them to commit crime or cause harm.

Action taking place during Op Sceptre will include:

Weapons sweeps to find weapons that criminals may have hidden for later use.

High visibility patrols and intelligence-led stop checks.

Joint patrols with British Transport Police and the use of knife arches at some of the county’s train stations to disrupt criminals using the railway network.

Knife crime awareness events with our community safety partnership colleagues and charities such as Only Cowards Carry.

Working with schools, colleges, and youth organisations to educate children and young people about the dangers of carrying knives.

Working with Trading Standards teams to raise awareness among shop owners about the importance of challenging underage customers and the law around selling knives and bladed objects.

Nationally, the latest figures from the ONS show an eight per cent rise in the number of offences involving knives or sharp weapons, taking the figure to its highest level since comparable data began to be collected in 2011.

In Essex there was a 35 per cent increase in violence against the person offences for the 12-months to the end of January 2019 with 54,064 offences compared with 40,032 for the same period the previous year.

The county also saw a 12.6 per cent increase in the number of possession of weapon offences with 2,014 offences in the 12-months to January 2019 compared with 1,868 for the same period the previous year.

Essex Police’s Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Paul Wells said: “Sadly, we’ve seen an increase in knife nationally and an increase in violent crime here in Essex – and I understand this affects how safe people feel.

“However, it’s also important to note that less than eight people in every 1,000 here in Essex will be a victim of a violent crime with injury.

“Driving down violent crime remains one of our top priorities, but tackling the underlying issues is complex and is a battle that we as a community must fight together.

“We know knife and violent crime is closely associated with gangs and drugs, but also with domestic abuse.

“Those who are involved in gangs or organised crime carry knives and other weapons because of the threat of violence that hangs over them. Arresting them is not always a deterrent.

“We need to educate our children about whether that’s the kind of life they want to lead – carrying weapons, always looking over their shoulder and being not only at risk of getting hurt but facing the consequences of hurting someone else.

“Tackling knife crime involves more than just enforcement. It is a community responsibility, which is why we work with other organisations within the criminal justice system, our community safety partnerships, charities, schools and community groups to try and educate people to prevent knife crime happening in the first place.

“Information is also really key. If you know someone who carries a weapon or have information about drugs or gangs, for example, tell us.

“We can then take action against those people.”

We also encourage young people worried about knife crime to find out about Fearless.org.

For more information about knife crime in Essex, visit www.essex.police.uk/knifecrime

A NUMBER of police officers are in attendance at a property in Nicholls Field.

Both uniformed and plain clothed officers have been at a house since before 8am (Tuesday).

A dog unit is also present.

YH has contacted Essex Police and is awaiting a response.

More to follow.

ESSEX Police is no longer looking to identify a man pictured in CCTV who they wanted to speak to in connection with an incident where a woman was sexually assaulted on a bus in Harlow.

A woman reported she had been assault on a number 508 bus travelling from Bishop’s Stortford to Harlow on Monday, February 25.

A 32 year-old man from Dunmow attended a voluntary interview on March 11.

Our enquiries are ongoing.

ESSEX Police officers have been out in force all week in Harlow as part of the nationwide campaign against knife crime.

Officers have been out early searching shopping parades including Bush Fair, The Stow and the Town Centre.

On Thursday morning, YH went along worth officers to Jon then their sweep. Afterwards, we spoke to Inspector Tony Walker about the campaign and Harlow’s police’s ongoing fight against knife crime.

ESSEX Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington said: “I was saddened to hear about the appalling events in New Zealand and on behalf of everyone at Essex Police I send sincere condolences to all those affected.

“Today we will be stepping up our reassurance patrols around mosques and increasing engagement with communities of all faiths, giving advice on how people and places can protect themselves.

“We have strong communities across the county who I know will be uniting following these events and ensuring that we stand together against acts of terrorism.

“Places of worship can also use our online training package ‘ACT Awareness eLearning’ for advice on Protective Security and how to react should the worst happen. It can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/act-awareness-elearning. I’d also encourage everyone to be aware of our Run, Hide, Tell advice.

“We take all forms of extremism seriously and anyone with concerns about someone becoming radicalised can get advice and support through the PREVENT programme at www.ltai.info”

TWO men from Harlow have been sentenced today, Friday, March 15, after being found guilty of a manslaughter.

Andrew Watt, 48, died in hospital on August 19, 2017, after being assaulted outside the Poplar Kitten pub in Harlow two days before.

Anton Collins, 27, of Hookfield and 24-year-old Jack Jordan, of Davenport, were both found guilty by jury at Chelmsford Crown Court on February 13.

The jury heard how Mr Watt had been drinking in the Poplar Kitten, his local, at the same time as Collins and Jordan on August 17 2017.

At around 10pm, an argument had broken out about a debt allegedly owed to Collins’ father by one of Mr Watt’s friends.

Mr Watt continued to try and diffuse the arguments but, throughout the night, Collins and Jordan continued to target the group of men.

Both Collins and Jordan left the pub after Mr Watt was knocked unconscious and fell to the floor, where he suffered severe head injuries. Mr Watt was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital but, sadly, died several days later.

Today, Collins was sentenced to six years and Jordan received two years for their roles in the assault.

Before the sentencing, Mr Watt’s wife, Sarah, paid tribute to him, saying he was the “cheekiest, funniest and most loving person” she’d ever met.

In a statement read to the court, she recalled their wedding day, just eight weeks prior to her husband’s death: “when I saw him standing there, I couldn’t get down the aisle fast enough. I can remember my dad telling me to slow down!”

In remembering her husband and his “Watty tricks” she noted how “bittersweet” it was to know that he had saved four lives through donating his organs. She stated there was some comfort in knowing that “his heart is still beating and a part of him still lives on.”

Mrs Watt criticised the “arrogance” of Jack Jordan and Anton Collins and expressed her frustration at the lack of remorse shown for their involvements in her husband’s death.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “Today has been a very sad day for Mr Watt’s family, and I would like to praise them for their dignity throughout this extraordinarily difficult time.

“Collins and Jordan took away someone irreplaceable to them, fuelled by alcohol and over an irrelevant £20 debt, and they still have not shown remorse.

“I hope that these sentences, and seeing both of these men behind bars, will be of some small comfort to them, and will allow them to start healing from this terrible tragedy.”

A HARLOW woman’s been fined after being found drunk and disorderly outside a pub.

Diana Leftwich, aged 47, No Fixed Abode, pled guilty at Chelmsford magistrates court to the following:

On 15/01/2019 at Harlow in a public place, namely outside the Essex Skipper, The Stow, Harlow, were guilty, while drunk, of disorderly behaviour
Contrary to section 91(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1967.

Leftwich was fined £85.00

ESSEX Police are appealing for information after a man was left with serious leg injuries following a fail to stop collision in Harlow yesterday, Friday, March 15.

A man aged in his 50s was crossing Commonside Road at around 6.30pm when he was in collision with a dark coloured motorbike.

The motorbike left the scene and the pedestrian was taken to hospital with what has been described as life-changing injuries. He continues to receive care.

Th police would like to hear from anyone with information or dash cam footage.

Please call PC Mark Burey at Chigwell Roads Policing Unit on 101 quoting incident 1053 of 15/03 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Monthly Community Policing Report
By Inspector Tony Walker

WE have recently welcomed two new Police Community Support officers to the team, Sharon MacDonald & David Moore, both area a great addition to the team and will increase our ability to provide a visible presence throughout Harlow and address community issues. Last month we organised a community meeting to address anti-social behaviour and crime in the Market Street area of Old Harlow, the meeting was well attended, by local residents, business owners, the local authority and police. A number of issues were addressed and the meeting gave the local community the opportunity to express their concerns.

Following on from a number of road traffic accidents and complaints we conducted a number of speed checks in the Commonside Road area, the feedback has been positive with many requests for the same to be done in other area’s in Harlow, we will be training more officers in the use of the speed gun which will allow us to carry out more checks in a variety of areas in the future. Three drugs warrants were executed by the team last month at various locations in Harlow with drugs being seized at each, we also supported colleagues who executed a number of warrants in Fern Hill Lane which resulted in seven people being charged with serious crime and remanded into custody.

We have also been successful in obtaining two criminal behaviour orders for two people causing problems in the town centre. The orders are applied for at the magistrate’s court after conviction for a criminal offence and place specific restrictions on people with the aim of reducing anti-social behaviour and crime.

National knife crime week ‘Operation Sceptre’ has seen police forces throughout the country focus on knife crime which is a real concern for us all at the moment and there have been a number of tragic events reported on in the media involving knives. We have been carrying out a number of initiatives in Harlow to address knife crime, with the support of the Council Community Safety Team we have conducted knife sweeps at various locations and recovered knives & weapons.We have increased our patrols and utilised stop & search powers. Presentations have been given at Harlow College and other secondary schools to advise you people on the dangers of knife crime and gangs, we will look to continue this work throughout the year to reduce knife crime.

Up and coming Community Policing Team events over the next month are as follows;

Street Meets – all are welcome to attend, this is not restricted to residents from a specific area.

Sat 23rd March – Staple Tye shopping area 1pm -2pm
Mon 25th March – The Stow 11am – 12pm
Mon 1st Apr – Bush Fair 11am-12pm
Thur 4th Apr – Old Harlow 11am-12pm
Sunday 7th Apr – Staple Tye 11am -12pm
Sat 27th Apr – The Stow 10am – 11am
Coffee with cops Thur 4th April – MacDonald’s at Staple Tye 12pm-1pm

Facebook Q&A session between 7pm & 8pm (Facebook – HarlowCPT) as always information can be found on the Essex Police website (www.essex.police.uk) and the Harlow Community Policing Teams Facebook and Twitter sites.

The Community Policing team email address can also be used for non-urgent issues. HarlowCPT@essex.pnn.police.uk

NO further action will be taken against a man who was arrested on suspicion of making hoax bomb threats.

Essex Police were called around 1.45am yesterday, Wednesday 20 March, with concerns around the behaviour of a passenger travelling on a coach between Stansted Airport and London on the M11.

The driver stopped the coach southbound between junction seven and eight and called police.

Officers responded quickly to the report, closing the road and putting diversions in place to ensure members of the public were kept safe, whilst they worked to establish the circumstances and deal with the incident.

Following enquiries, they have established no offences were committed and the 20-year-old man from Middlesex was released without charge.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Wells said: “I would like to commend the passengers and the driver for their actions and thank them for their bravery.

“We understand the man’s behaviour gave cause for concern and the passengers did the right thing by raising this to the driver, who was then able to stop the coach and report this to police.

“The driver stayed calm and relayed as much information as possible to us, so that we could assess the situation and take the best course of action.

“He did this when he understandably thought there was a real possibility of a threat to not only his life, but also his passengers and other road users too.

“We encourage members of the public to remain vigilant for anything that seems out of place or unusual, report anything that doesn’t feel right and let us make the decision on whether what you have seen is important.

“In an emergency, always dial 999.”

A WOMAN is in hospital and a man has been arrested after an alleged attack outside a pub in Harlow.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “Police were contacted at just after 6pm on Thursday, March 21st, following reports that a woman in her 20s had been assaulted in Momples Road, Harlow.

“Officers attended the scene and a woman in her 20s, who had suffered various facial injuries, was taken to hospital for treatment.

“A 31-year-old man from Harlow was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage. He remains in custody.

A MAN who stabbed a teenager in Harlow, causing him to lose his gall bladder, has been jailed for close to three years.

Thokozani Shiri, 21, of Torkildsen Way, Harlow, had pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article at Chelmsford Crown Court on February 27.

He was sentenced at the same court on March 21. He received two years and ten months imprisonment for grievous bodily harm and a nine month sentence for possession of a bladed article, to run concurrently.

Shiri stabbed his 16-year-old victim once in the abdomen after a verbal altercation on a footpath on School Lane on October 8, 2018.

The two, who were known to each other, had briefly argued at around 6.15pm before Shiri pulled out a combat knife and stabbed the teenage boy.

The boy was found by an off-duty nurse who performed first aid until paramedics arrived. He was later taken to the Royal London Hospital by air ambulance.

Just after 6.25pm, Shiri was found in front of a house on Park Lane, having fought with another boy, who was uninjured. Shiri was approached by two PCSOs, who instructed him to discard his knife. As he was being arrested, he tried to claim that his actions were in self-defence.

Investigating officer, PC Alexander Brown, from Harlow CID said: “Shiri is a dangerous man and was willing to stab a teenager out of pure spite.

“On the day, our officers acted admirably to detain him. I’d particularly like to commend the PCSOs who were first on scene, who confronted Shiri whilst he was armed with a knife, and managed to get him to the ground.

“I hope today’s sentence goes some small way to get justice for the victim, who was seriously injured during this senseless attack.”

A TEENAGE drug dealer caught with 37 rocks of crack cocaine and heroin nearly £1,000 in cash has been jailed for more than two and a half years.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how officers were patrolling in Westfield, Harlow on January 9 this year when they spotted a known drug users lurking near a garage area.

Moments later they spotted 18-year-old Liam Harridance who ran off when he saw the officers.
They caught up with him and found a package which he had discarded during the chase which contained 37 rocks of the Class A drug which had an estimated street value of £690. He had also dropped

Officers also recovered a mobile phone linked to drug supply and Harridance had £450 in cash in his coat pocket and a further £500 in his left shoe.
Harridance now of HMP Wandsworth was arrested and charged with two counts of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and possession of criminal property. He pleaded guilty to the charges at Chelmsford Crown Court and was jailed for 32-months.

Following the sentencing Det Sgt James Paget of the West Operation Raptor team said: “Harridance should be spending his teenage years making the most of his life and out with his friends.

“Instead he is behind bars because he was sadly mistaken when he thought drug dealing was a glamorous lifestyle and an easy way to make money – it isn’t.

“Our message is clear, if you think you can come to Essex and attempt to deal drugs on our street, Operation Raptor will be waiting for you and you can expect to end up behind bars.”

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 and gang-related crime in your community contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

ESSEX Police have started an investigation after a teenage girl was stabbed.

A police spokesperson said: “We were called shortly before 8.30pm this evening, March 27, with reports a teenager had been stabbed on Milwards, Harlow.

“Officers and paramedics attended and a teenage girl was taken to hospital with a non-serious injury.

“No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing”.

Statement by ambulance service: “We were called at 8.21pm yesterday with reports that a person had been stabbed in Milwards, Harlow.

“We sent two ambulances and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance car.

“One person was taken to hospital for further treatment”.

A MAN who assaulted a taxi driver, stabbed him in the arm with a needle, and stole his car has been jailed for more than six years.

The victim, a man in his 30s, picked up a man claiming to be called ‘Ian’ from the Poplar Kitten pub in Bush Fair, Harlow at around 8.45pm on October 16, 2018 and took him to an address in Fern Hill Lane.

As the victim stopped the car, his passenger put a needle to his neck and demanded money.

He handed over his change bag which had about £20 inside but the man – later identified as 37 year-old David Smith – demanded more and held a second needle to his neck.

Smith then tried to pull the victim out of the car and hit him to the leg with a metal bar. The victim tried to grab his car keys but Smith stopped him and stuck two needles in his arm.

Smith then got into the car and drove off. Still inside the car was the victim’s wallet which had about £200 inside.

Officers were able to trace the car to a car park in Kitson Way. As they approached the vehicle they saw Smith and two other people standing by it.

As the officers approached them, the trio walked off. As they did, Smith was seen to drop a bottle and another item, later identified as a needle which the officers seized.

When Smith was searched he was found to be in the possession of the keys to the stolen taxi. A comparison of CCTV from the Poplar Kitten and body worn footage from one of our officers

All three people were arrested.

Smith, of no fixed address, was charged while the other two people – a man in his 30s and a woman in her 50s – were told they faced no further action.

At a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on March 1 Smith pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of a bladed article, possession of an offensive weapon, driving with no licence, and driving with no insurance.

At the same court today (Wednesday, March 27), he was sentenced to six years and four months in prison.

Investigating officer, PC Jamie Dawson, from Harlow CID, said: “David Smith threatened and assaulted the victim who was just trying to go about his job.
“No-one should be subjected to that level of fear or violence, let alone at their place of work.

“Smith is a dangerous and violent man and Essex is safer place now he is behind bars.

“He has at least admitted his crimes so prevented the victim from re-living the ordeal through a trial and I hope this sentence will bring some solace to the victim.”

A HARLOW electrician who stole more than £210,000 in a tax scam, has been jailed for two years after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Michael Gough, 62, the sole director of Plug Check Ltd, was caught fraudulently reducing his VAT bills and making false claims for VAT repayments in order to steal £217,038.

HMRC officers were unable to verify a £12,000 VAT repayment claim and when questioned, Gough said “there were errors” on the returns and that he had “made up the figures”.

Officers contacted Gough’s accountant who provided documentation that proved he had been lying to HMRC since 2011, submitting 28 returns that generated £124,471 in fraudulent VAT repayments. He also pocketed £92,567 which he should have paid over to HMRC.

Matt Palmer, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:

“Gough thought he could steal from the public purse without anyone noticing and even when confronted by officers from HMRC he still refused to take the situation seriously. This money is equivalent to the starting salaries of nine nurses in London for a year.

“If you believe someone is committing tax fraud, please report them to HMRC online or call our Fraud Hotline on 0800 788 887.”

Gough pleaded guilty on 19 February 2019 at Chelmsford Magistrates Court. He was jailed for two years and banned for being a company director for ten years, at Chelmsford Crown Court on 25 March 2019.

A TEENAGE drug dealer caught with 133 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine has been jailed for 15-months.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how officers from the West Operation Raptor were patrolling on Tilegate Road, Harlow on March 19 last year when they spotted a moped linked to the supply of Class A drugs.

They approached the driver, 18-year-old Keelan Shelly, and asked if he was carrying any drugs. Shelly of Rowley Mead, Thornwood told officers he has Class A drugs concealed in his pants.

The teenager was searched and found to have 39 rocks of the Class A drug heroin, 94 rocks of crack cocaine, £600 in cash in his pocket, two phones linking him to drugs and a small pot of cannabis.

Shelly was arrested, charged and subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and possessing cannabis. He was sentenced to 15 months custody.

Following the sentencing Det Sgt James Paget of the West Operation Raptor team said: “If anyone is under the illusion that drug dealing is a glamorous lifestyle, it isn’t.

“Those who choose this path will end up either the victim of violence or perpetrating violence as they come up against rival dealers, they will risk their safety to deal and carry drugs and they will come up against Operation Raptor, and we will arrest you put you behind bars.”

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.

Shelly was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday March 25th.

A MAN has been charged with a number of alleged assaults on a woman and being in possession of a taser.

Emergency services were called to near the Small Copper pub on Momples Road, Harlow last week.

Noel Porter, aged 31, of Orchard Croft, Harlow has been charged with the following.

On 21/03/2019 at Harlow, without the authority of the Secretary of State, had in your possession a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of a thing, namely a TASER.

On 21/03/2019 at Harlow in the county of Essex, assaulted another, thereby occasioning her, actual bodily harm.

On 21/03/2019 at Harlow without lawful excuse, damaged an I-phone to the value of unknown belonging to another intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.

On 12/11/2018 at Harlow in the county of Essex without lawful excuse, destroyed a Black wide screen Technika TV to the value of approx £420 belonging to another intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.

A trial date of April 18th has been set at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Porter has been remanded in custody.

A HARLOW man is set to stand trial for an alleged possession of a knife in the town centre.

Tevin Christy, aged 23, of Hookfield, Harlow was charged with the following.

On 24/11/2018 at Harlow had with you, without good reason or lawful authority, in a public place Market Square an article which had a blade or was sharply pointed, namely a knife.

A trial date of April 24th at Chelmsford Crown Court has been set.

Christy has been released on unconditional bail

A HARLOW man has been jailed after pleading guilty to an assault.

Liam Lincoln, aged 20, of Sharpecroft, Harlow pled guilty to the following at Chelmsford magistrates court.

On 23/01/2019 at Harlow assaulted a male by beating him

Lincoln was committed to detention in a young offender institution for 16 weeks forthwith.
Reason: Offence so serious because so serious committed subject to post sentence supervision and numerous previous convictions for violence.

He was also fined £50.00