£200,000 PFCC investment to target anti-social behaviour hotspots across Essex

Eight anti-social behaviour (ASB) hotspots across Essex are now benefiting from £200,000 of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) agreed investment in extra high-visibility patrols, youth outreach and targeted action.

Each hotspot has received funding for three additional police patrols and one Community Safety Partnership patrol every week for 22 weeks, with activity targeted at the days and times when ASB is taking place.

Weekly detached youth outreach work is taking place in each area, alongside targeted days and nights of action, combining enforcement with early intervention to tackle persistent problems and improve public confidence.

As part of Operation Guardian, the programme has been developed using ASB data alongside information from local neighbourhood policing teams, with funding focused on locations where visible patrols and youth engagement are expected to have the greatest impact.

The locations are:

• Canvey Town Centre;

• Brentwood Town Centre;

• Stanway/Tollgate in Colchester;

• Harwich/Dovercourt;

• Braintree Town Centre;

• Debden in Epping Forest;

• The Stow in Harlow; and

• Wickford Town Centre and Cranfield Park, Basildon.

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said:

“Tackling anti-social behaviour in Essex remains a priority. The latest figures show a rise in anti-social behaviour, a clear warning that progress cannot be taken for granted even though recorded incidents are down when compared to previous years by two-thirds since 2016. There can be no complacency when the trend starts moving in the wrong direction.

“That is why £200,000 has been invested in additional patrols, targeted activity and early intervention in the communities where the level of anti-social behaviour requires further intervention.

“I want to see a more robust response to persistent anti-social behaviour. Repeat problems must be tackled with those responsible facing the full force of the law. Essex residents rightly want to see action when they report concerns.

“There is a relentless focus on this and I will continue to hold the Chief Constable to account. The recent trend of anti-social behaviour incidents must be reversed.”

Wickford is one of the eight hotspot locations that were selected to benefit from the programme, adding to the significant investment already made in the town in response to concerns raised by residents about ASB.

Through the PFCC's two-year Local Safer Streets programme, £284,293 has been allocated to Wickford to support a range of measures designed to prevent and reduce ASB. Investment has included: upgraded and expanded CCTV coverage; new fencing at Nevendon Park; detached youth outreach; street wardens; Town Link radios; and a police drone.

This includes £27,708 invested in Operation Mallard patrols during 2025/26 and a further £10,566 in 2026/27 to continue the activity. Essex Police increased targeted high-visibility and plain-clothes patrols through Operation Mallard, alongside wider enforcement and problem-solving activity.

Operation Guardian’s Response Programme complements these existing measures, bringing additional high-visibility patrols, youth engagement and partnership activity to further reduce ASB.

Each police patrol involves two officers for four hours, with one additional Community Safety Partnership patrol involving two officers for two hours also taking place in each hotspot every week. A further £1,000 will be available in each hotspot for targeted days or nights of action.

The approach builds on previous hotspot policing in Essex. Latest published results for Operation Guardian show that since 2023, more than 25,000 hours of high-visibility police patrols were delivered across 15 hotspot areas, resulting in 353 arrests. ASB in those areas fell by 13%, while serious violence fell by 11%.

The programme supports the Police and Crime Plan priority to drive down ASB and crime through visible policing, prevention and targeted action in the communities where problems are having the greatest impact.