ESSEX Police’s new chief constable Stephen Kavanagh has launched an initiative to get senior officers back to grassroots policing.

Every officer from the rank of chief inspector upwards will now be expected to spend four hours a month on the ‘shop floor’ with their officers.

It means people in towns across the county will be likely to see senior officers out on the beat and get the chance to have a chat.

Mr Kavanagh also plans to hold senior level meetings at local stations rather than at Essex Police HQ so he and his team can get to know their officers on the front line.

Mr Kavanagh said: “Once a month we are getting back to the shop floor. This gives us the opportunity to meet with local officers and staff.

“We are spending time out on patrol, with custody, staff on front counters, seeing what local officers and staff are experiencing, what’s going well and what they need additional support with.”