Essex Police is a territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Essex, in the East of England. Essex Police is responsible for a population of over 1.8 million people and an area of . The chief constable is Ben-Julian Harrington, who took up the appointment in October 2018. Essex and Kent Police share support services, such as administration, fleet and a Serious Crime Directorate (SCD). It's currently led by Assistant Chief Constable Andy Pritchard who works across both force areas. The collaboration between them began in 2007. Essex Police are overseen by the elected Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst. History Essex Constabulary was formed in 1840. In 1965, the force had an establishment of 1,862 officers. Southend-on-Sea Borough Police was established by the county borough of Southend-on-Sea, England, in 1914. In 1969, Southend-on-Sea Borough Police amalgamated with Essex Constabulary to become the Essex and Southend-on-Sea Joint Constabulary. This merger was campaigned against by the council and the local MPs. Colchester also at one time had its own police force. The title was shortened to Essex Police in 1974. In April 2000, it took over parts of the county in the south-west (Loughton, Waltham Abbey, Chigwell and Buckhurst Hill) formerly in the Metropolitan Police Area. Epping Forest Keepers act as Epping Forest constables in the Forest parishes in the south-west of the Essex Police area; they have different powers from those of the Essex Police. Chief constables Chief constables of Essex have been: Essex Constabulary (1840) 1840–1881 : John Bunch Bonnemaison McHardy 1881–1887 : William Henry Poyntz 1888–1915 : Edward McLean Showers 1915–1932 : John Alfred Unett 1933–1962 : (Sir) Francis Jonathan Peel 1962–1978 : Sir John Cyprian Nightingale (knighted in 1975 New Year Honours) Essex Police (1974) 1978–1987 : (Sir) Robert Sidney Bunyard 1988–1998 : John Halcrow Burrow 1998–2005 : David Frederick Stevens 2005–2009 : Roger Baker 2009–2013 : Jim Barker-McCardle 2013–2018 : Stephen Kavanagh 2018–present : Ben-Julian Harrington Officers killed in the line of duty The Police Roll of Honour Trust and Police Memorial Trust list and commemorate all British police officers killed in the line of duty. Since its establishment in 1984, the Police Memorial Trust has erected 50 memorials nationally to some of those officers. Since 1849, the following officers of Essex Police were killed while attempting to prevent or stop a crime in progress: Constable Ian Dibell, 2012 Constable Gary John