Witham South — Neighbourhood Policing Team
Local policing team in the Essex Police area: contact routes, current priorities and public events.
Contact the team
In an emergency always call 999. For non-emergencies call 101 or use Essex Police's online reporting.
Recorded crime — June 2026
352 street-level crimes recorded within this team’s boundary.
Compared with May 2026 (331): ▲ 21 (6%) higher. Recorded-crime counts fluctuate month to month.
- Violence and sexual offences184 · 52%
- Anti-social behaviour38 · 11%
- Criminal damage and arson31 · 9%
- Other theft22 · 6%
- Public order21 · 6%
- Vehicle crime16 · 5%
- Shoplifting13 · 4%
- Burglary6 · 2%
Street-level open data from data.police.uk (Open Government Licence v3.0), counted within this team’s official boundary. Locations on data.police.uk are approximate — snapped to anonymised map points near where each crime occurred — so figures are a guide, not an exact address-level count. Captured 2026-08-08.
What happened to reported crimes — June 2026
258 recorded outcomes logged within this team’s boundary.
- Unable to prosecute suspect131 · 51%
- Investigation complete; no suspect identified85 · 33%
- Awaiting court outcome18 · 7%
- Action to be taken by another organisation14 · 5%
- Further action is not in the public interest3 · 1%
- Local resolution3 · 1%
Recorded outcomes from data.police.uk (Open Government Licence v3.0). A crime and its outcome can fall in different months, so these do not map one-to-one onto the crime counts above. Captured 2026-08-09.
Current priorities
Concerns from residents about vehicle nuisance in hotspot locations including Braintree town centre, Braintree Retail and Leisure Park, Charter Way and Witham Industrial Estate, as well as surrounding residential areas and rural routes across the district, where speeding, racing and antisocial driving are frequently reported.
We’ve been listening to our residents and understand the disruption caused by vehicle nuisance, including speeding, racing, excessive noise and misuse of vehicles, particularly across town centres, residential streets, car parks and rural road networks. In response, we are carrying out targeted activity in these identified locations. This includes increased high-visibility and plain-clothes patrols, working with Roads Policing and specialist teams, and using enforcement powers such as Section 59 warnings, fixed penalties and vehicle seizures. We are gathering intelligence from residents, parish councils and community speed watch schemes to identify repeat vehicles and offenders, supported by ANPR and joint work with partners on preventative measures. Our focus remains on prevention, enforcement and long-term problem solving to reduce repeat incidents and improve community safety.
Set: 2026-07-03
Concerns about antisocial behaviour and shoplifting in key hotspot locations including Braintree town centre and Braintree Village shopping and leisure complex, as well as other town centres, retail areas and public spaces across Braintree and Uttlesford, where youth-related ASB and repeat offending have been identified.
We know that antisocial behaviour and shoplifting have a significant impact on people and businesses across these communities. Activity is focused on these hotspot locations, with increased visible patrols during key demand periods and use of enforcement powers such as dispersal orders, Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders, alongside action against repeat offenders. We are working closely with councils, housing providers, retailers, businesses and youth services to address root causes, particularly around high-footfall retail areas and town centre environments. Officers continue to use local intelligence, CCTV, body-worn video and community information to take action and prevent escalation.
Set: 2026-07-03
Concerns about drug-related activity across Braintree and Uttlesford, including Braintree and Witham town centres, residential areas, public spaces and rural communities. This includes drug use and supply, county lines activity, exploitation of vulnerable individuals, and the movement of drugs through local transport routes.
We recognise the harm caused by drug-related activity across both urban and rural communities and remain committed to tackling it. We are carrying out proactive work including targeted operations, warrants and stop-search activity within these identified areas. This includes identifying and targeting organised crime groups and county lines activity and acting on intelligence from communities and partners to locate dealing hotspots within residential areas, public spaces and transport routes. Closure orders are used where appropriate. Alongside enforcement, we work with partners such as health, housing and social care to safeguard vulnerable individuals and address underlying causes, while supporting education and awareness activity.
Set: 2026-07-03
Concerns about burglary and protecting homes, businesses and rural communities where vulnerability and repeat victimisation have been identified.
We know burglary has a significant and lasting impact on victims and communities. In response, we will carry out proactive patrols in affected residential, rural and business locations and target offenders responsible for repeat and linked offences. We will use intelligence and analysis to identify patterns, repeat victims and cross-border offending, focusing enforcement where it has the greatest impact. Alongside this, neighbourhood policing teams and partners provide crime prevention advice, rural engagement and reassurance activity to protect homes, businesses and farming communities.
Set: 2026-07-03
Public events & surgeries
Let's Talk - Hatfield Peverel Village Hall
2026-07-15 · Maldon Road, Hatfield Peverel,
- Discuss local policing, raise concerns, and ask questions. - Find out what we’re doing to keep you safe, address anti-social behaviour and catch criminals. - Get advice on how you can protect yourself and your property. On the rare occasions we may need to cancel an event, we’ll notify you by posting on our Facebook page.
Let's Talk - River Walk, Asda Witham
2026-07-16 · 24 Highfield Road, Witham
- Discuss local policing, raise concerns, and ask questions. - Find out what we’re doing to keep you safe, address anti-social behaviour and catch criminals. - Get advice on how you can protect yourself and your property. On the rare occasions we may need to cancel an event, we’ll notify you by posting on our Facebook page.
Let's Talk - Witham Greggs
2026-07-17 · Greggs, Newlands Shopping Centre, Witham
Officers from your community policing team will be on hand to listen to your concerns about crime or antisocial behaviour, where you live or work. We can discuss solutions to the problems you raise, and where needed, work with our local partners to resolve ongoing issues. And if it's something we already know about, we can talk about what we’re doing to address it. It’s important that you talk to us about the things that are causing you concern in your community. If we have a better understanding of what’s happening, we can work to fix it. So come and talk to us. If you can’t make it this time, remember you can contact us using our digital 101 service on our website. Please note that the event may be cancelled at short notice due to operational demands. If this is the case, we will let you know as soon as we can by posting on the district Facebook page. For more information, please contact the team using the contact us tab.
Let’s Talk – Cineworld, Braintree Village
2026-07-18 · Charter Way, Chapel Hill, Braintree
- Discuss local policing, raise concerns, and ask questions. - Find out what we’re doing to keep you safe, address anti-social behaviour and catch criminals. - Get advice on how you can protect yourself and your property. On the rare occasions we may need to cancel an event, we’ll notify you by posting on our Facebook page.
Let's Talk - TOAST, Witham
2026-07-19 · 50 Newland Street, Witham
- Discuss local policing, raise concerns, and ask questions. - Find out what we’re doing to keep you safe, address anti-social behaviour and catch criminals. - Get advice on how you can protect yourself and your property. On the rare occasions we may need to cancel an event, we’ll notify you by posting on our Facebook page.
Let’s Talk – Braintree Village
2026-07-20 · Charter Way, Chapel Hill, Braintree
- Discuss local policing, raise concerns, and ask questions. - Find out what we’re doing to keep you safe, address anti-social behaviour and catch criminals. - Get advice on how you can protect yourself and your property. On the rare occasions we may need to cancel an event, we’ll notify you by posting on our Facebook page.
Let's Talk - Hatfield Peverel Village Hall
2026-07-24 · Maldon Road, Hatfield Peverel,
- Discuss local policing, raise concerns, and ask questions. - Find out what we’re doing to keep you safe, address anti-social behaviour and catch criminals. - Get advice on how you can protect yourself and your property. On the rare occasions we may need to cancel an event, we’ll notify you by posting on our Facebook page.
Let’s Talk – Braintree Village
2026-07-25 · Charter Way, Chapel Hill, Braintree
- Discuss local policing, raise concerns, and ask questions. - Find out what we’re doing to keep you safe, address anti-social behaviour and catch criminals. - Get advice on how you can protect yourself and your property. On the rare occasions we may need to cancel an event, we’ll notify you by posting on our Facebook page.
Event listings reflect the last data refresh — check the official team page before attending.
Nearby teams in Essex Police
All Essex Police neighbourhood teams →Source: data.police.uk API · Licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0 · Fetched 2026-07-13. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with Essex Police.