We value our communities

We know the idea of a stop and search can feel intimidating and inconvenient. But to keep our communities safe from serious harm, particularly crimes involving drugs and weapons, it’s important we have the power to stop and search people.

When we stop and search a person, we will explain why you have been stopped, and will carry out each search in a polite and respectful manner

It’s also important that we hear your feedback, as each interaction allows us to learn and improve how we do things.

Here you can find out what happens when someone is stopped and searched and how we work to keep you safe.

We value our communities. We have more officers on our streets and having a good relationship with those who live in, work in, study in and visit Essex, is more important than ever.

That’s why we’re continuing to work with our communities to review our stop and search interactions. We invite members of the public to watch and review body worn video recordings of our officers conducting stop and searches across Essex.

The Independent Chair of the Body Worn Video Review Panel, Neil Woodbridge, said:

“The real testimony to Essex Police’s transparency and public service is when we have seen things we are not happy about, they have responded and taken action.”

If you’d like to make a difference, you can be a part of that process. Learn more about how we’re opening up the conversation with impacted communities, and find out how you can join the panel.

How to get involved?

If you'd like to be a voice for your community and review our body worn video of stop searches, you can sign up to our stop and search review panel. 

Inspector Dave Gardiner explains why you might see a Section 60 or dispersal order in place after instances of disorder or antisocial behaviour, the authorisation process and what this means for law-abiding members of the public.