Witham South

Concerns from residents about vehicle nuisance in hotspot locations including Braintree town centre, Braintree Retail and Leisure Park, Charter Way and Witham Industrial Estate, as well as surrounding residential areas and rural routes across the district, where speeding, racing and antisocial driving are frequently reported.

We’ve been listening to our residents and understand the disruption caused by vehicle nuisance, including speeding, racing, excessive noise and misuse of vehicles, particularly across town centres, residential streets, car parks and rural road networks.

In response, we are carrying out targeted activity in these identified locations. This includes increased high-visibility and plain-clothes patrols, working with Roads Policing and specialist teams, and using enforcement powers such as Section 59 warnings, fixed penalties and vehicle seizures.

We are gathering intelligence from residents, parish councils and community speed watch schemes to identify repeat vehicles and offenders, supported by ANPR and joint work with partners on preventative measures.

Our focus remains on prevention, enforcement and long-term problem solving to reduce repeat incidents and improve community safety.

Concerns about antisocial behaviour and shoplifting in key hotspot locations including Braintree town centre and Braintree Village shopping and leisure complex, as well as other town centres, retail areas and public spaces across Braintree and Uttlesford, where youth-related ASB and repeat offending have been identified.

We know that antisocial behaviour and shoplifting have a significant impact on people and businesses across these communities.

Activity is focused on these hotspot locations, with increased visible patrols during key demand periods and use of enforcement powers such as dispersal orders, Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders, alongside action against repeat offenders.

We are working closely with councils, housing providers, retailers, businesses and youth services to address root causes, particularly around high-footfall retail areas and town centre environments.

Officers continue to use local intelligence, CCTV, body-worn video and community information to take action and prevent escalation.

Concerns about drug-related activity across Braintree and Uttlesford, including Braintree and Witham town centres, residential areas, public spaces and rural communities. This includes drug use and supply, county lines activity, exploitation of vulnerable individuals, and the movement of drugs through local transport routes.

We recognise the harm caused by drug-related activity across both urban and rural communities and remain committed to tackling it.

We are carrying out proactive work including targeted operations, warrants and stop-search activity within these identified areas. This includes identifying and targeting organised crime groups and county lines activity and acting on intelligence from communities and partners to locate dealing hotspots within residential areas, public spaces and transport routes.

Closure orders are used where appropriate.

Alongside enforcement, we work with partners such as health, housing and social care to safeguard vulnerable individuals and address underlying causes, while supporting education and awareness activity.

Concerns about burglary and protecting homes, businesses and rural communities where vulnerability and repeat victimisation have been identified.

We know burglary has a significant and lasting impact on victims and communities.

In response, we will carry out proactive patrols in affected residential, rural and business locations and target offenders responsible for repeat and linked offences.

We will use intelligence and analysis to identify patterns, repeat victims and cross-border offending, focusing enforcement where it has the greatest impact.

Alongside this, neighbourhood policing teams and partners provide crime prevention advice, rural engagement and reassurance activity to protect homes, businesses and farming communities.