Loughton: Investigation into body discovery passed to Met

Detectives have made good progress in their investigation into the discovery of a man’s body in woodland in Loughton yesterday morning, Saturday 15 October.

The discovery was made near to the Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate at around 11.55am.

The man’s death is being treated as suspicions and officers have working to establish the circumstances which led up to it.

Through our enquiries, we now believe he died within the area for which the Met Police is responsible.

As such the investigation into the man’s death has been formally transferred to them.

Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said:

“The Met Police will now take the lead on this investigation but we will continue to support them.
“Road closures will remain in the area while investigations at the scene continue.
“Part of Oakwood Hill is closed to allow our investigations to continue. There is no access to the industrial estate via Chigwell Lane, however it can be access via Roding Road.
“While we don’t believe this will cause significant impact over the weekend, it may cause disruption at the beginning of next week as the industrial estate re-opens for business.
“Diversions will be in place and we appreciate your understanding patience while we carry out our enquiries at the scene.”

If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.

You can let us know by submitting a report online or by using our Live Chat service.

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Please quote incident 513 of 15 October. when providing any information to make sure it gets to the right person as quickly as possible.

Officers are investigating after a man’s body was found in woodland in Loughton.

We were called to concerns for the welfare of a man on land near to the Oakwood Hill Industrial Estate at around 11.55am today (Saturday 15 October).

Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene and we are treating his death as suspicious.

Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said:

“We have been carrying out enquiries throughout the day and based on these we believe this man’s death is suspicious.
“A team of specialist detectives and staff are working around the clock to establish the circumstances around his death and we need anyone who saw or heard anything to come forward.
“In particular, I need anyone who saw a vehicle or any suspicious activity late last night or in the early hours of today to contact us.”

Det Supt Kirby added that road closures are currently in place:

“We have closed part of Oakwood Hill to allow our investigations to continue. There is no access to the industrial estate via Chigwell Lane, however it can be access via Roding Road.
“While we don’t believe this will cause significant impact over the weekend, it may cause disruption at the beginning of next week as the industrial estate re-opens for business.
“Diversions will be in place and we appreciate your understanding patience while we carry out our enquiries at the scene.”