Euro 2024 policing plan continues as England progress

England are through to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 and fans across Essex will be looking ahead to Sunday’s match.

In the background, you’ll see us continuing our work to keep you safe, take drink and drug drivers off our roads and tackle domestic abuse.

We’ve got officers at key locations in town and city centres across the county on matchdays.

Policing plans remain in place for each potential England game – we hope all the way up to the final on Sunday 14 July.

Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said:

“While many felt England’s performances in the group stages fell a little flat, we’re as hopeful as anyone they can inject some urgency into their next key match.
“There’s been nothing complacent about our policing plan for the Euros and I’m pleased the vast majority of fans across Essex have behaved entirely responsibly.
“We’ve been keeping a close eye on our town centres, bars and pubs and our close work with businesses and the community is paying off.
“The atmosphere across our county has largely been positive and we haven’t seen a high level of incidents linked to the football.
“Where we have seen a very small number of issues arise, we’ve acted, and we will continue to act in response to any disorder, anti-social behaviour or violent crime.”

Domestic abuse remains a key focus during major football tournaments.

This type of offending is not solely connected to football and as in issue it remains a force-wide priority throughout the year.

But we can see a rise in incidents during tournaments.

We’ll be issuing Domestic Violence Prevention Notices to perpetrators who we have not yet received authorisation to charge but who we strongly suspect have been violent in the domestic setting.

These notices run for 48 hours and mean the perpetrator cannot return to the home in that time.

Within 48 hours, a court hearing takes place where the notice is converted into a Domestic Violence Prevention Order. That order is then in place for 28 days.

Throughout the tournament, where there is evidence that a domestic incident can be directly linked to football, officers will also compile evidence to submit to the Crown Prosecution Service which will consider asking the courts to apply a Football Banning Order to convicted perpetrators.

That would be in addition to any restraining orders or non-molestation orders imposed by the court.

And just as with domestic incidents, we will take robust action against anyone who gets behind the wheel of a car after drinking or taking drugs.

Our Roads Policing Unit are leading our response by increasing high visibility patrols on all our roads, both strategic and rural. There will be no road that can be used to evade being caught.

We have hundreds of police officers trained to take drug wipe tests at the side of the road, meaning you’re just as likely to get caught for drug driving.

Across the period of the tournament, Roads Policing officers have arrested 78 people on suspicion of drink or drug driving.

Help us reduce road collisions and casualties in Essex and make our roads even safer. Report instances of poor and dangerous driving through Safer Essex Roads Partnership's Extra Eyes initiative.

More than ever, irresponsible, dangerous and illegal road behaviour is being recorded by road users. Through Extra Eyes this footage can be sent to, and reviewed by, an investigator within Road Policing at Essex Police.

Find out how by visiting Safer Essex Roads Partnership website.

Reflect on your behaviour

If your actions make your relationships a toxic place to be, it’s time to reflect on your behaviour and get the help you need.

That’s the message from the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB) as Essex unites to tackle domestic abuse.

Working in partnership with The Change Project, we are encouraging people to break the cycle of domestic abuse by changing their behaviour.

The campaign focuses on different types of abuse – from physical abuse, to controlling behaviour, stalking and harassment, and uncontrolled emotions like humiliation or anger aimed at your loved ones.

If you enter a relationship with someone new and start to feel a little unsure about the situation, there are steps you can take.

Clare's Law gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them.

For more information about Clare's Law and how to make an application please visit our domestic violence disclosure scheme page.