A STABBING, hunting a wanted woman and finding a man passed out next to a main road isn’t an average day for most.
In fact, most would need to lie in a dark room after such a dramatic series of events.
But for Colchester’s Local Policing Team it’s just another day at the office.
So when I joined the city’s officers for a late shift on Wednesday, I was warned to expect the unexpected.
Have been invited to tag along with @EPColchester for a late shift today to see what they get up to.
— Lewis (@lewis_adams) June 28, 2023
Will be sharing some of the bits we get up to in Colchester for @TheGazette throughout in the thread below 👇🏼
Our day started at 3pm with a briefing from the Crime Scene Investigation team before the first job came in.
A caller had reported a woman in Magnolia Drive was threatening to kill her child.
It was full steam ahead to Greenstead for police constables Brad West and Darcie Hughes, who I was tagging along with.
But upon arrival the situation had deescalated, with the officers opting to refer the matter to social services rather than take criminal action.
“We have to be open minded and prepared for anything as incidents vary," said PC West.
On our way back to the police station, reports arrive of a man found unconscious outside The Range in Mason Road.
Concerns had been raised about his welfare but the officers were quick to locate the individual, now ambling along Cowdray Avenue.
After a few welfare checks, he is sent on his way.
Having spent an hour or so back at the nick, we’re back on the road searching for an alleged thief wanted for failing to appear at court.
Checks of a family member’s property in Rowhedge Wharf Road, Rowhedge, and later at another associated address in Haven Road, Colchester, both proved unsuccessful.
But at about 5.45pm, things really ramp up.
Reports are coming in over the radio of a man being chased by three people in Mason Road who then stabbed him in the back.
Officers currently searching in and around the Cowdray Avenue area for three suspects after a man was stabbed in the back just now. Victim en route to hospital
— Lewis (@lewis_adams) June 28, 2023
En route to the scene, PC West explained: “Attending incidents like this always feels very dangerous because not only has someone been injured but potentially there is someone out there with a knife who could hurt someone.
“There are people out there who could be in harm’s way.”
A search of the site proves unsuccessful and so the officers begin touring the surrounding area, including a foot patrol in Castle Park and wider scans in Greenstead.
Within an hour, intelligence has come in linking a car involved in the incident to an address in Albany Gardens.
The car allegedly involved in the incident is now being seized by officers for forensic examination pic.twitter.com/94YFi5Zu6U
— Lewis (@lewis_adams) June 28, 2023
The officers act swiftly to seize the Peugeot and after someone inside the property tries to ignore them, they break the door down and raid the flat.
Later in the evening constables arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
PC West explained: “The most evidence we can gather is within the initial hour and so we have got to act quickly and efficiently.”
It was impressive work and marked a successful end to a fascinating day.
While calls for extra policing resources to be allocated to Colchester hold legitimate weight, it’s fair to say those already on the beat are doing a sterling job.
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