More Bobbies on the Beat – A Big Win for Colchester

Pam Cox MP welcomes new Neighbourhood Police Officers to Colchester Streets

Colchester is getting a major boost in the fight against crime as eight new Neighbourhood Police Officers hit the streets—delivering on Labour’s promise to bring back visible, community policing.

Pam Cox MP with Essex Police

The new officers are part of the Labour Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, a flagship policy to rebuild trust in local policing and put communities back at the heart of crime prevention. Essex Police will see 30 additional officers deployed across North Essex, increasing the number of dedicated neighbourhood officers from 181 to 211. There will be a total of 74 additional officers dedicated to neighbourhood policing in Essex this year.

In Colchester, the eight new officers will be out on patrol - focusing on crime hotspots, tackling retail crime in the city centre, and making sure residents feel safer in their neighbourhoods. Every ward will now have a named, dedicated officer that residents can contact directly.

Pam Cox MP welcomed the move and urged residents to get in touch with their concerns:

“This is a big win for Colchester. People have told me time and again they want to see more police on the streets—and today, we’re delivering. These new officers will be visible, accessible, and focused on the issues that matter most to our communities.

 “I’m especially pleased to see a focus on the city centre, where retail crime has been hitting local businesses hard. These officers will help turn the tide and restore confidence for shop owners, workers, and shoppers alike.

“Police Officers and PCSOs will also be tackling antisocial behaviour, knife crime and drug dealing which all have a negative impact on people’s lives.

 “But this is just the start. I want to hear directly from residents about what’s happening in their streets, estates, and neighbourhoods. If there’s a problem, I want to know—so I can work with Essex Police to make sure resources are going where they’re needed most.”

Residents can contact Pam Cox MP directly via her website or constituency office to raise concerns or highlight areas that need attention.

In Essex, Police Funding is up 6.7% under the Labour Government, a cash increase of £27.1million with funding specifically tied to increasing visible neighbourhood policing.

Under Labour’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, we are recruiting 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs by 2029. This will ensure that officers are once again visible in communities, with guaranteed local patrols and a named officer to turn to when things go wrong.