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The Force

The Local Policing Command is one of the most visible parts of the force, delivering emergency (999) response day and night, providing neighbourhood policing while also carrying out proactive patrols, investigative and community engagement activity. These officers, staff and volunteers are based in local policing areas as set out in the map.

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There are also officers, staff and volunteers with specialist roles covering organisational support and frontline delivery functions. These range from business support, experienced detectives investigating and solving crime (both locally and through our joint Serious Crime Directorate) to highly trained firearms, roads policing and marine patrol officers.

The Contact Management Command handles over 1,000 calls per day and the Kent and Essex collaborative Support Services Directorate manages business services, IT, vehicles, kit and an estates portfolio which supports operations 24/7. None of this is possible without the ability to attract, retain and develop our workforce through our joint Human Resources and Learning Directorate.

The force’s budget is in excess of £400m per annum.  Nationally, Essex is the second lowest funded force (based on funding from grants and council tax) and has the second lowest spend per head of population. Essex Police has a good track record of delivering cash and efficiency savings to maximise the benefit out of every penny.  It is an efficient force, with less than two officers per 1,000 head of population (significantly lower than the national average of 2.5 officers per 1,000).

Almost two thirds of the force budget is allocated to front line policing.  The force must deliver in this busy area despite having resources per capita population 20% lower than the national average.  The most recent funding settlement left a deficit in the Essex Police budget, resulting in some tough choices having to be made as part of the force’s Affordable Futures programme.  Despite these tough decisions, Essex Police is performing as well as – and in some cases better than – better funded forces, and the PFCC remains committed to maintaining Essex Police officer numbers at historically high levels, to reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and to making our county safe for everyone.

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