Chief Inspector’s Update - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Chief Inspector’s Update – BY Southend District Commander Chief Inspector Dave Browning. Hello Leigh News Readers.

Chief Inspector’s Update - BY Southend District Commander Chief Inspector Dave Browning. Hello Leigh News Readers.

BY Southend District Commander Chief Inspector Dave Browning. Hello Leigh News Readers.

Better weather is finally here and we’re gearing up for a busy Summer.

Firstly another thirty-three new officers are ready to protect and serve our neighbourhoods across Essex after taking their oaths. The Officers passed out at a ceremony at Essex Police Headquarters in front of their friends and family last week.

The ceremony takes place a week after the force launched its Neighbourhood Policing Teams, which will see 74 new officer roles added across the county and will tackle the issues that matter to you.

Here’s a brief update on some of the hard work of our teams over the last few weeks.

Work by our Neighbourhood Policing Team has ensured a man who repeatedly harassed and abused vulnerable members of the public has been put behind bars. Richard Lewis, 38, of no fixed address, was made the subject of a Criminal Behaviour Order by Southend Magistrates’ Court on 5 April.

This order followed reports Lewis had been aggressively begging and escorted people to cash points to ensure they withdrew money for him.

Under the terms of the order, Lewis was strictly prohibited from swearing, intimidating or abusing people in public.

He was also ordered: Not to approach people to receive goods/money within the City of Southend · Not to sit on the ground outside any shop · Not to beg in a public place · Not to enter any of the following tower blocks unless it’s his permanent place of residence: Pennine, Chiltern, Malvern, Quantock, Blackdown, Brecon, Grampian and Barringtons.

Despite this order, Lewis has persisted in approaching members of the public, specifically targeting the vulnerable including children and the disabled, in a bid to extract money from them.

He was arrested in Southend High Street on Tuesday 6 May and charged with four public order offences, assault and four breaches of his CBO.

Lewis admitted each of the charges and at Southend Magistrates’ Court on 29 May he was sentenced to six months in prison and the CBO against him was extended until 2030.

Our e-newsletter, Dispatch, delivers news, information, and advice from Essex Police. Dispatch is a ‘one stop shop’ for local police news – direct from the source. Sign up is completely free and you can unsubscribe at any time. To sign up go to the Essex Police Website and search ‘Dispatch’ and click the link for Southend District.

Upcoming Events – Friday 27 June between 3:15pm-5:15pm at Edwards Hall School Summer Fayre, Macmurdo Road, Eastwood.

Tuesday 1 July between 11am-12:30pm at Tesco, Prince Avenue, Westcliff

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