ESSEX police has released results of an operation across Chelmsford and Maldon.

Officers have concluded October’s Operation Overwatch, resulting in 17 arrests across the areas.

The operation took place between October 19 and October 24, and disrupted organised crime and saw officers take part in traffic stops, prison searches, community reassurance and surveillance and taking drugs and offensive weapons off the streets.

A number of arrests were carried out.

Edward George, 37, of George Street, Chelmsford was arrested and charged on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, theft from a shop, handling stolen goods, using a motor vehicle without third party insurance and driving a motor vehicle without a license.

He appeared at Chelmsford Magistates’ Court on October 20 and pleaded guilty to all offences, where he received 26 weeks imprisonment for handling stolen goods with 8 weeks imprisonment for theft running concurrently. He faces a six-month disqualification for driving without a license and was ordered to pay £115 in victim surcharge.

A 24-year-old woman from Chelmsford, who was also in the car, will face no further action.

Later that day, officers and Special Constables attended the Springfield Youth Centre, where we had received local intelligence regarding drug dealing and anti-social behaviour. After a black Ford Fiesta was stopped, the driver abandoned the vehicle and a large amount of cannabis was seized from inside.

Officers continue to make enquiries regarding the identity of the driver of the vehicle.

Last Saturday officers took on high-visibility patrols in the Promenade Park area of Maldon, and spoke to members of the public about their concerns.

Officers are keen to listen to the concerns of members of local communities, and this led to officers attending locations where issues had been noticed and reported by residents. Areas like Maltese Road and Swiss Avenue were visited seven times in four days.

Vehicle stops played a large part in the operation, with a total of 39 stopped and 13 searched. These often led to charges, like on Tuesday, October 23.

Two men, aged in their 20s, were stopped in a grey BMW just before 11.45am on Primrose Hill in Chelmsford.

The car was seized and Amara Kposowa, 27, from Latimer Drive in Hornchurch was charged with driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance. He will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on December 5.

Ahmed Adamu, from Exning Road, London E16, was arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis and later charged. He will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on January 2, 2019.

Officers finished the week with the help of our dog unit, who patrolled the grounds and walls of HMP Chelmsford late on Wednesday night to deter the flow of contraband to and from the prison.

Other notable arrests and charges of October’s Operation Overwatch include:

An adult conditional caution was given to a 19-year-old man from Chelmsford after a small amount of white powder, believed to be cocaine, was found during a stop and search on October 19.

Two men from Chelmsford were charged with possession of cannabis on October 21. Christopher Brown, 28, of Sandpiper Walk, and Nicholas Marriott, 22, of Finchley Avenue will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on January 8, 2019.

On October 21, a 17-year-old boy from Chelmsford who cannot be named for legal reasons was charged with burglary following the alleged theft of two bikes from Victoria Road in Chelmsford on October 16. He will appear at Chelmsford Youth Court on November 23.

Joseph Lamb, 32, of no fixed address was stopped on Baddow Road on October 23 for allegedly driving under the influence of excess drugs. He was charged and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on November 14.

The overall figures for this month’s Operation Overwatch, recorded between October 19 and October 24, are as follows:

17 arrests made with officers making a total of 22 arrest attempts.

Police identified 36 vehicles of interest through automatic number plate recognition.

39 vehicles were stopped and 13 were searched.

46 people were stopped and 35 were searched.