More about this area

Essex covers 1,417 square miles, has a 400-mile coastline incorporating London Gateway Port, Tilbury and Harwich and borders Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent and four London Boroughs. Three quarters of the county is agricultural, intersected by the cities of Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend on Sea as well as the UK’s 4^th busiest airport.

The force targets and arrests prolific criminals. Crime is falling in Essex, with 10,657 fewer offences in the 12m to March 2025 compared to the previous year. The largest reductions are in residential burglary (-20.4%) vehicle offences (-14.4%) and robbery (-13.9%).

Proximity to London brings challenges both in terms of crime and also a competitive employment. In the year to February 2025, the force responded to 385,399 incidents, compared to 407,117 during the previous 12 months. There is a high and increasing public desire for policing services and visibility in neighbourhoods. The force is responding to this with a comprehensively updated Neighbourhood Policing Plan and Engagement Strategy. In 2025, a further 74 officers will move into neighbourhood policing teams.

The force pioneered hotspot policing, investing in new technology to improve productivity and constantly developing the skills of officers, police staff and volunteers.

Essex Police has an ambitious transformation programme underpinned by evidence-based reviews and the adoption of innovative approaches. The force invests in the skills necessary to detect modern crimes and to safeguard individuals, businesses and neighbourhoods in an increasingly digital world.

Essex Police is efficient, with 1.84 officers per 1,000 head of population (compared to the national average 2.5 officers per 1,000 for the 43 forces in England and Wales) and one of the lowest expenditures per head of population in the UK. Almost two thirds of the force budget is allocated to front line policing. (Essex Police spending per capita on headline functions of policing £196.56 compared to all forces £255.76 year ending March 2025)

Public confidence in the force has been consistently high. 75% of residents stated Essex Police were doing a good/excellent job, 70% felt they would receive a good service and 64% had confidence in local policing, according to independent surveying overseen by the PFCC’s office.

Essex covers 1,417 square miles, has a 400-mile coastline and borders the counties of Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Kent and four London Boroughs. Three quarters of the county is agricultural, intersected by several significant urban areas, including two cities of Chelmsford and Southend.

The population of Essex is 1.86 million with 7.5% of residents of minority ethnic origin. Incorporating a county council, twelve districts and two unitary authorities, a strategic road network that includes the M25, M11, A12 and A13, Stansted airport – the UK’s fourth busiest and the London Gateway port, Essex is a diverse county to police.

Essex has 1.84 officers per 1,000 head of population and responded to over 398,000 incidents in year ending December 2021. There is high and increasing demand for policing services due not only to the volume of crime and incidents, but their severity and increasing complexity.

Crime has reduced in Essex compared to pre-pandemic levels with a 1.2% reduction (2,061 fewer) year ending May 2022 compared to the 12 months to December 2019. A strong focus on crime prevention means crime has not increased in 2022 as quickly as expected and is not forecast to exceed 2019 volumes until 2023.

The Force is one of the most efficient nationally with one of the lowest spends per head of population in the UK and almost two thirds of the budget allocated to front line policing. Proximity to London brings challenges both in terms of crime and recruitment and retention due to the high cost of living for officers and staff.

Essex Police has an ambitious transformation programme underpinned by evidence based review and adoption of innovative approaches. Investing in the skills necessary to investigate modern crimes and safeguard individuals and communities in an increasingly digital world is a key part of our transformation plan.