Lakeside Shopping Centre large police presence - pictures

The Essex Police team in Thurrock have shared pictures of the deployment across Lakeside Shopping Centre yesterday as part of a Project Servator operation.

Project Servator is a policing tactic which aims to disrupt a range of criminal activity, including terrorism, while providing a reassuring presence for the public.

Residents are reassured this is a normal police activity and is not linked to any specific intelligence about a threat to the area.

We’ve been at @Lakeside_TW for a #ProjectServator deployment. We spoke to @McDonaldsUK @BootsUK and @Apple branch staff at #Lakeside about the tell-tale signs someone maybe gathering info to commit a crime & how to contact us when they spot something that doesn’t seem right. pic.twitter.com/oYn9sgDkrN

— Essex OSG (@EssexOSG) October 19, 2023

A spokesman for the force in Thurrock commented: "Highly visible police officers spent time speaking with customers and staff, telling them about the type of suspicious behaviour to look out for and how to tell us about it.

"Meanwhile our plain clothed officer were looking out for the tell-tale signs that someone is planning or preparing to commit an act of crime."

Specialist police officers spoke to staff at McDonalds, Boots and Apple about the key signs someone may be gathering information to commit a crime - and how to contact police when they do spot something that does not seem right.

Essex Police is working building a network of vigilance across the county to disrupt a range of criminal activity, including terrorism.

For more information about Project Servator, visit esxpol.uk/2hO1L.