Detective Superintendent Dan Morrissey

Detective Superintendent Dan Morrissey, Essex Police’s stalking lead and chair of the Essex Stalking Intervention Panel (ESIP), has served with the force since 1997. He has dedicated more than 27 years to protecting communities, supporting victims, and leading teams across the county. Inspired by his father, who was also a police officer, Dan grew up in a policing family and applied to join Essex Police shortly after leaving university.

Dan’s typical day begins with morning briefings and reviewing the latest updates from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Crime Management Centre. He then prepares for meetings, reviews emails, and spends time connecting with colleagues in the Command Team. Walking the station to check in with officers and teams is a vital part of his role, keeping him in touch with frontline policing.

Managing daily demand while supporting his teams to perform at their best is one of the biggest challenges he faces. But the most rewarding part is working with professional, hardworking colleagues and achieving strong outcomes for victims. Dan says:

“Seeing offenders brought to justice so they can’t cause further harm is hugely satisfying.” 

Throughout his career, Dan has played an important role in some of the most difficult situations families and colleagues can face. As a Road Policing Family Liaison Officer early in his service, he supported bereaved parents after a fatal crash that killed two children.

“It was incredibly traumatic and upsetting. But I felt I helped make the situation a little more bearable, and I was part of the team that ensured the driver was sentenced to prison.”

He stays motivated through his belief in serving the public and his teams, alongside the constant support of his family and colleagues. For anyone considering policing as a career:

“Kindness and strong communication, honesty and integrity and above all; courage. These are the qualities I believe are essential in policing.
“Give it a go. It’s one of the most diverse, challenging, but rewarding jobs you can do. Every day is different, both exciting and fulfilling.”

As he moves towards the later stages of his career, Dan’s goal is simple: to continue supporting his teams, delivering the best possible service for victims, and ensuring criminals are held accountable.

Tackling stalking: A critical mission

In addition to his day-to-day role, Dan leads Essex Police’s work on stalking and sits on the Essex Stalking Intervention Panel (ESIP). He is determined to raise awareness of how dangerous stalking can be and how vital it is that victims are protected.

“Please make sure you take stalking offences seriously.
“How you respond to these incidents and the safeguarding you put in place for victims can prevent future homicides.”

Stalking is more aggressive than harassment and often driven by an obsession with the victim. It can involve ex-partners, former friends, or even strangers. To help officers and the public recognise it, Dan highlights FOUR: Fixated, Obsessive, Unwanted, Repeated

Key facts

• On average, a stalker will contact up to 21 people around the victim.
• 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men will experience stalking in their adult life.
• The average stalking case lasts 15 months and involves around 100 incidents before being reported.
• More than 90% of victims experience mental health issues.
• Two women a week are killed by a partner or ex-partner in the UK.

The fight against violence against women and girls

Essex Police are yet again taking part in the 16 Days of Activism, a global campaign that runs from 25 November to 10 December, raising awareness and driving action to end violence against women and girls. It’s a time to reflect on how policing, partners, and communities can work together amplify our commitment to creating a safer Essex.

We've made tackling VAWG and stalking a clear priority. Over the past year:

Stalking and harassment incidents in Essex have fallen by more than 11% year-on-year, thanks to increased awareness and partnership working.

The force has strengthened its response to stalking, updating procedures and training in line with national learning, including actions from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s super-complaint.

Nationally, tackling VAWG remains at the top of the agenda. The government has launched a new £13m National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection, and policing has recorded a 25% rise in arrests for VAWG offences and a 38% rise in rape charges since 2019-20. Yet challenges remain, with inconsistent responses to stalking and calls for improvements in risk assessment and safeguarding.

We don’t investigate in isolation

For Detective Superintendent Dan Morrissey, the message is clear and urgent:

“Stalking and violence against women and girls must never be dismissed. How we respond can save lives.
“Listening to the victims and talking to our partners (via ESIP) can help us build the whole picture and seek justice for the victim”  

What this means in practice

Looking at the bigger picture - Stalking is rarely a one-off incident. ESIP ensures that patterns of behaviour are identified early and acted upon.

Putting victims first – Every decision starts with safeguarding. Officers are trained to listen with empathy, offer reassurance, and connect victims to specialist support through partners like Compass, Safe Steps, and Changing Pathways.

Working together - ESIP brings together police, probation, domestic abuse teams, and advocacy services to ensure a joined-up response. This partnership approach means victims don’t have to navigate the system alone.

Taking action when it matters most – Breaches of protection orders are treated with urgency. Officers are empowered to act swiftly to reduce risk and prevent escalation.

Thorough risk assessments - Officers are encouraged to dig deeper, assess psychological harm, and understand the full scope of risk—not just the physical threat.

Dan and his team know that behind every report is a person who may be frightened, confused, or unsure of what to do next. That’s why compassion, communication, and collaboration are at the core of Essex Police’s response to stalking.