Rochford District Council has launched a three-month trial of Town Rangers on Rayleigh High Street to combat recent increases in anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. The initiative, which began on 1 April 2026, aims to provide a visible presence to deter crime and support local businesses in the community.
The decision follows reports from Essex Police regarding incidents of robbery, shop theft, and anti-social behaviour involving young people in and around the High Street and the nearby Southend Airport Retail Park. While enquiries remain ongoing, police have confirmed that they have already made arrests and have further interviews pending as part of their response to these recent events.
Councillor Danielle Belton, Leader of Rochford District Council, stated that the council is looking to replicate successes seen in other areas. “In areas that have Town Rangers already, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour has dropped, so I am hopeful that our three-month trial of Town Rangers starting on 1 April in Rayleigh is that solution,” she said.
The project is funded through a partnership between the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and the Community Safety Partnership. The new rangers are trained in first aid and hold both Security Industry Authority licences and Community Safety Accreditation Scheme accreditation.
To support local shops, the rangers will use the Shop Safe radio scheme. This allows them to share information and images between retailers and maintain direct communication with police and CCTV operators. Similar programmes in Southend have already shown results, where street rangers helped recover more than £5,500 worth of stolen property in February 2026 alone.
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