Residents share concerns at PFCC Brentwood public meeting
Residents in Brentwood came together to raise local safety concerns and hear directly from policing and fire services at a public meeting with Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst.
The meeting was held on Monday 11th May 2026 at Hutton Community Centre, and was chaired by Mr Hirst. He was joined by Chief Inspector Terry Fisher from Essex Police and Group Manager Dan Kirk from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.
The panel shared the latest crime picture for Essex, covering the year to March 2025. Overall crime has fallen by 0.9 per cent, with 1,314 fewer incidents recorded. Residents also heard encouraging news about vehicle crime, which is down by 17.2 per cent, including fewer thefts both from and of vehicles.
Residents raised a wide range of local issues during the meeting, with anti-social behaviour in Brentwood town centre a key topic. Concerns included vandalism in the multi‑storey car park, behaviour linked to social media outside McDonald’s, and speeding.
Fire safety was also discussed following a recent tragic fatal fire. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service reassured residents that all fatal fires are fully investigated and explained how a post‑incident response team works in affected communities, offering reassurance as well as practical fire safety advice and education.
PFCC public meeting programme
Our public meetings like this give residents the chance to ask questions, share what matters to them, and hear how police and fire services are working locally to keep communities safe. You can find out more about our public meeting schedule here: Events & Meetings - Essex PFCC