Roadmap out of lockdown

From 12.01am on Monday 17 May, Essex enters the next phase of the Government’s Roadmap out of lockdown and some of the rules will be changing.

Some of the changes include:

• The hospitality industry is allowed to open indoor settings which can be attended by groups of up to six people or two households
• Up to 30 people will be able to meet outdoors
• Indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children’s play areas as well as hotels, hostels and B&Bs and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes can re-open.

You can find out more information about the changes and what this means for you, your family and your work by visiting the Government website.

As the retail and hospitality sectors continue to re-open, we must all keep doing the right things to keep each other safe including observing social distancing the wearing of face coverings where they continue to be mandatory.

Essex Police will continue to take a common-sense approach to policing the regulations - we’ll engage with people, explain the regulations, and encourage them to do the right thing.

We are not here to stop people having a good time but we are here to keep you safe and we will continue to carry out our policing duties by catching criminals and ensuring they face justice, as we have done recently with a number of youth gang injunctions being secured in Southend and criminal behaviour orders imposed on two shop lifters to protect businesses in Basildon and Wickford.

We have also secured a 21-year prison sentence for dangerous sex offender Simon Chilton; jailed a man for the manslaughter of Harlow man Philip Burr; and broken up drugs rings around the county.

When faced with clear and blatant breaches we will take appropriate enforcement action and this will include any reports of violence or abuse towards retail or hospitality staff.

Please continue to report Covid-19 regulation breaches.

Between 7am and 11pm, you can make an online report directly to one of our Digital 101 operators, by selecting the 'Live Chat' button at the bottom right of our website home page

Alternatively, you can call 101.

March 2021: One year on

As we reach the first anniversary of the country going into lockdown, we would like to thank everyone in Essex for your support.
 
The past 12 months have been incredibly challenging but by sticking to the Covid-19 guidelines you have protected the NHS and helped us to catch criminals and keep Essex safe.
 
This short film features officers from across the county and Chief Constable BJ Harrington expressing their gratitude for the sacrifices you have made.