Essex Police made eight arrests tackling ‘high-harm’ crime

Officers from the Operational Support Group made eight arrests on Friday, December 8, tackling high-harm crime across the county. The Operational Support Group supported teams in executing eight warrants at addresses across Thurrock, at addresses believed to be connected to county lines drug dealing across Essex. Three suspects were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

Officers attended the addresses of and arrested two outstanding suspects in Basildon and Tilbury, wanted on suspicion of malicious communications and grievous bodily harm respectively. Three more suspects were arrested while on patrol. One suspect, wanted for five thefts and with a number of other warrants, was arrested in Canvey.

Another was arrested in Ongar with warrants out for their arrest, and another arrested in Basildon as they were wanted on recall to prison. Det Supt Gary Biddle said: "Every day is different for the Operational Support Group. "Whether we are or carrying out warrants or patrolling the roads, we are always busy and always working to protect our residents.

"Violent crime and supplying drugs are a priority for the force and our unit in particular.

We won't let suspects continue to walk the streets and we will proactively seek them out."