PFCC Roger Hirst to return to Wickford to update residents on progress tackling anti-social behaviour

Wickford residents are being invited to attend a public meeting hosted by Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) Roger Hirst, where they will hear about the actions being taken to address issues raised by the community earlier this year. Residents will also have the opportunity to ask questions about local policing, community safety and anti-social behaviour.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 5th August 2026 from 7pm to 8pm at the Wick Community Centre, Silva Island Way, Salcott Crescent, Wickford, SS12 9NR.

This follows a packed PFCC public meeting held in Wickford in January, where residents raised concerns about anti-social behaviour, nuisance vehicles, wildlife crime, youth disorder and community safety. At that meeting, the Commissioner committed to returning within a few months to provide an update on progress and hear directly from local people about whether they feel improvements have been made.

Since January, Essex Police, Basildon Council, the PFCC's office and local partners have continued to meet regularly to coordinate action and respond to issues affecting the town. Initiatives include additional patrols, targeted enforcement activity and investment to tackle the problems most frequently raised by the community.

Recent figures show there has been a 71% increase in reported anti-social behaviour in Wickford year-on-year up to 27 May 2026, with local concerns including the illegal use of catapults to damage vehicles and harm wildlife, off-road motorcycles being ridden in parks and around the High Street and criminal damage to buses.

Actions taken since the January meeting include:

• More than £17,000 of additional funding from the PFCC's office for extra patrols in Wickford.
• Development of a further Safer Streets bid to support additional security measures and fund a Basildon-owned drone and officer training.
• PFCC Safer Streets funding bid submitted by Basildon Community Safety Partnership sees funding of £160,531 to fund CCTV Upgrades and Expansion including new CCTV cameras with analytical intelligence installed in Wickford high street, car parks, and key pedestrian routes.
• Dedicated neighbourhood policing activity, including officers being freed from crime allocations during May to focus on patrols and problem-solving.
• A large-scale Week of Action in June involving Essex Police, Basildon Council, Immigration Enforcement, Roads Policing, the Operational Support Group, the Rural Engagement Team and the Drone Team, which resulted in significant enforcement activity, including the discovery of a chop shop and the seizure of stolen, uninsured and off-road vehicles.
• Prompt investigation and arrest of a suspect following an incident in which a cat was killed.
• Successful action against nuisance vehicles, including the recovery of a stolen moped and arrests linked to vehicle theft and driving offences.

Roger Hirst said: "When I visited Wickford in January, residents spoke passionately about the anti-social behaviour and crime affecting their community. I promised I would return to update residents on the actions that had been taken and to hear directly from them about whether they believe progress has been made.

"Since then, Essex Police, Basildon Council, my office and partners have worked closely together to tackle the issues raised. There has been significant enforcement activity, additional investment in local patrols and ongoing partnership work to address the concerns residents told us matter most.

"Public meetings like these are an important opportunity for residents to question decision-makers, hear what is being done and help shape future priorities. I would encourage anyone with an interest in community safety in Wickford to come along and take part."

The meeting is free to attend and no booking is required.

Residents will have the opportunity to hear updates from the PFCC and local policing representatives, raise concerns and ask questions about issues affecting Wickford and the wider Basildon district.