Essex Police have completed over 850 engagement events in Essex in just two years through their ‘Coffee with Cops’ scheme.

The events give people the opportunity to talk to our officers about crime and concerns within their neighbourhoods.

Since 2018, there have been 150 in Epping Forest, 150 in Basildon, 60 in Chelmsford and Maldon, 45 in Colchester and Braintree and 20 in Uttlesford and Harlow.

PCSO, Daniel Brady, said: “I believe they are a great asset and provide an opportunity for us to give advice, reassure people and gather intelligence, especially around drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.

“I remember how we visited one woman at her home who had just lost her husband and was lonely.

“I told her about Coffee with Cops and she attended the next one and was overwhelmed with joy because she had someone to talk to – that really made my day.”

PCSO Brady told of how a high risk domestic abuse victim approached him at one of the events and asked for help.

He listened to her, took her to a quiet place and then quickly took her to a place of safety where she was able to talk to investigative officers.

PCSO Kyli Nice echoed her colleagues’ comments, saying: “We really have had some fantastic turnouts at our events, I think the locations and the concept mean people open up easily.

“There is a teenager who always turns up to greet us and to say hello. I think we really make his day.

“There is one incident that comes to mind. An elderly woman went into town for the first time after having an operation and left her purse on a bus stop.

“She came in and spoke to us and I drove to the location to find it had gone.

“Fortunately, someone handed it into us. We reunited the woman with her purse before driving her home.”

Jock Gibson, Essex Police’s Public Engagement Manager, said: “We started using coffee shops as there was already an audience there we could approach and speak to.

“We have branched out and we now use supermarket coffee shops, community centres, garden centres, pubs and church coffee mornings.

“The engagement has been really good at the events and we’ve had lots of positive feedback. We always keen to hear from anyone businesses who are keen to host one.”

An interactive map detailing all Coffee with Cops events can be found by visiting

www.essex.police.uk/your-area/

and choosing your area.

If you are interested in hosting an event, please email

public.engagement@essex.pnn.police.uk