Tackling serious violence in Essex

We're determined to keep driving down violent crime in Essex.

Lives are needlessly lost or changed forever because of violence involving weapons. Through enforcement, education and intervention, we believe we can prevent more people from suffering the devastating effects of violent crime.

Thankfully, in Essex, crimes involving knives is rare. Most people in Essex have not been, and will not be, a victim of knife crime.

And our ongoing work is making a difference. In 2023, there was an 11.2 per cent reduction in crimes where a knife or sharp object was used - that's 190 fewer offences. But we are never complacent and there is always more that we can do to help.

Are you worried that someone you know could be being exploited by County Line gangs or Organised Crime Group activity?

Are they returning home late? Staying out all night? Or even going missing for days or weeks at a time?

Are they being secretive about who they are talking to, or where they are going?

Or maybe you’ve noticed they have large amounts of money. Or new clothing, jewellery or phones they wouldn’t be able to afford.

Through independent charity Fearless, you can pass on information 100% anonymously to get them help. Fearless is not connected to any police service.

Sadly, knife crime and serious violence is often linked to the sale and supply of illegal drugs. We have specialist teams who dismantle and disrupt drug gangs operating in Essex. This includes those involved in County Line gangs.

In 2023, our Operation Raptor and Orochi teams, secured more than 800 years in prison sentences for drug dealers. This was a direct result of solid cases built against those who cause harm in our communities.

During this time, the teams executed 168 warrants. They took around 6kg of illegal drugs off our streets and seized £261,000 in criminal profits.

Over the last three years, drug offences in Essex have fallen by 21 per cent. 1471 fewer offences were recorded.

We target individual drug dealers, County Line gangs and organised crime groups (OCGs), whose illegal businesses are closely linked with violence and weapon-carrying.

But tackling drug-related crime and the associated violence is not only about enforcement. We work with local organisations who focus on protecting vulnerable people. This includes those who are exploited by County Line gangs.

We work alongside Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (VVU), which is made up of public service and local organisations. They share a common goal of protecting young and vulnerable people and preventing their involvement in violent crime.

We also have safeguarding officers who work to identify those being exploited or controlled by County Line gangs.

One of these forms of control exploits vulnerable people by using their home as a base for dealing drugs, a process known as cuckooing. Dealers often convince the vulnerable person to let their home be used for drug dealing by giving them free drugs or offering to pay for food or utilities.

Working together

In Essex we believe that by working with our communities we can prevent vulnerable people being taken advantage of. We can support victims of cuckooing and make sure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.  

We work to tell as many people as possible about the signs that could indicate someone is being cuckooed. This includes residents, local businesses, and partner organisation. The more people who can spot these signs and report them, the more vulnerable people we can help.

We use intelligence-led policing to carry out proactive patrols. The information we gather enables us to deter violent offenders and prevent serious and violent crime in our communities.