Harlow councillor in charge of public protection urges residents “not to approach Essex Spartans”
News / Fri 19th Dec 2025 at 09:38am
A SENIOR Harlow councillor in charge of public safety has urged residents not approach a group of people who are “patrolling” the streets in self-styled “uniforms” called Essex Spartans.
Labour councillor Nancy Watson asked the following question at a council meeting on Thursday night.
“Will you outline what you are doing regarding the Spartans, a group of people patrolling our streets, dressed like official security officers, some even wearing hand cuffs claiming to keep the public in particular women and girls safe?
Reply from Councillor Joel Charles (Portfolio Holder for Public Protection):
The council works closely with Essex Police and other members of the Safer Harlow Partnership to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
Joint activities are regularly undertaken on the ground by the council’s Community Safety Team
and local police officers to act as a visible presence.
It is concerning that a group, with no official link to any local government, policing or criminal justice body, has started to patrol the town.
The Council is taking the presence of Essex Spartans in the town seriously and has been
working with the police to agree the right course of action.
Senior officers at Essex Police are in the process of finalising a new policy and procedure for how to respond to organisations like Essex Spartans.
The District Commander for Harlow has promised to share that work with the council once it
has all been approved. It is likely that the council will mirror appropriate aspects of it.
The key is to have a joined-up approach to make sure the right level of scrutiny is applied.
It is the council’s view that residents should not approach any member of Essex Spartans to seek help, especially when there is a need to report an act of anti-social behaviour, crime, a housing issue or safeguarding concern.
David Forman
2025-12-19 09:50:42
The 1936 Public Order Act bans uniforms in relation to political groups or relating to militaristic style groups. As answer to a question put to the London Assembly explains the police submit files to the Crown Prosecution Service, but the charging authority rests with the Attorney General. See https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/1936-public-order-act
AB
2025-12-19 10:52:05
Well said Cllr Charles, these self-appointed vigilantes include some dangerous, unvetted individuals.
Jj
2025-12-19 13:03:36
I’d rather these than illegals on our streets.
Dave
2025-12-19 13:12:00
Can we just deport the flagshaggers and illegals so the rest of us normal folk, who actually respect our flag, can just get on with our lives?
Brian
2025-12-19 13:33:47
David foreman if the law were applied people breaking into this country illegally would be sent back to where ever ,the reason we have these spartans is because the law isn't applied.
JB
2025-12-19 14:04:11
They're just filling the void of the job police no longer do by providing a visible physical presence on the streets at night. Offering some protection,especially to young women,from the increasing number of unvetted male migrants that can't control themselves.
Jamie
2025-12-19 14:37:07
The Essex Spartans, formerly Epping Spartans, have co-hosted events with Epping Says No, a group run by members of a neo-Nazi group The Homeland Party. A member of that neo-Nazi group, Callum Barker, features in recent social media posts by Essex Spartans. These are not people who should be trusted to make our streets safer.
Boris
2025-12-19 17:14:46
I dont get the concern over this so hopefully someone will explain. How can people who help prevent crime on the streets actually be a problem. Are they any different to eg shop security staff or football match stewards in being supplementary to police. Are they any different to the Guardian Angels. Is the issue really that our councillors and perhaps police don't like not being in charge
M
2025-12-19 17:32:55
The problem with Essex Spartans and groups like them is that they have connections to far-right groups like Homeland, and far-right agitators like so-called "Tommy Robinson" and the EDL. People involved in their formation have allegedly made social media posts that include racist comments, antisemitic comments and very derogatory comments about immigrants. I'm not sure that having people with these sort of views patrolling our streets supposedly to make them safe is a good idea. If you are not white, not British, or of a different ethnicity and religious background, (and possibly if you don't have the same political views), are you going to feel safe with these people on our streets? And that's before you even consider the rather dubious and un-proven claims of their members having had proper and full DBS checks and safeguarding training etc. Having unvetted, self-appointed vigilantes on our streets, with no accountability to anyone but themselves, is surely a bad idea.
Dandy
2025-12-19 17:33:47
It seems that our crime ridden streets are by design of our leaders? They do nothing but don't want anyone else sorting it out?
M
2025-12-19 17:41:34
And also I have seen on social media sites that members of this group have supposedly been hanging around some of Harlow's schools and colleges, handing out leaflets to students. They were apparently asked to leave Harlow College grounds. I don't know about anybody else, but I don't want people, whoever they are, approaching children and young adults for any reason. Who knows what sort of people could be in their midst.
Seamus
2025-12-19 17:59:29
I know facts are the enemy of the left so hopefully they will chime in. Have any of the Spartans comitted an offence or been arrested for anything and is there any law that stops citizens from patrolling the streets? A simple yes or no will suffice.
Val
2025-12-19 18:13:14
I think we should be more concerned about the authoritarian actions of this Labour government restricting trial by jury and cancelling elections.
M
2025-12-19 18:58:46
Seamus - "Have any of the Spartans committed and offence or been arrested for anything" is my point entirely. How the hell do we know when they have no accountability? How do we know the criminal history of the men or women who are members of these groups? Anyone can say they have clean records, proper DBS checks and the proper training, but how do we know that they (and indeed any other group of whatever background,ethnicity, political affliation or religious belief) are telling the truth about these vital questions when their only accountability is to themselves. Are you ok with unvetted people with no accountability and no link to any official body, having unsupervised contact with children, young people and vulberable adults? I don't think I am, whoever they are?
Tony
2025-12-19 19:49:54
People isn't the real problem here. there is not enough police any more let alone on the streets. they say they are recruiting but dont have enough budget to get to the level they need. also because off the way they have recruited in the past they are now convicting more expolice officers than ever 🤔😒
Jamie
2025-12-19 20:26:23
Seamus, maybe my standards are different from yours, but I don't want people with links to neo-Nazi group members in charge of safeguarding people, whether or not they have a criminal record.
Seamus
2025-12-19 21:15:19
"Have any of the Spartans comitted an offence or been arrested for anything and is there any law that stops citizens from patrolling the streets? A simple yes or no will suffice." So that's a no then, thank you.
Jamie
2025-12-19 21:37:23
Sure, happy to confirm that they do not have a criminal record to my knowledge. They are definitely linked to neo-Nazi group members to my knowledge. Hope that helps. What a warped set of standards you have for people who are supposed to be safeguarding people.
Seamus
2025-12-19 21:52:22
Good to know Jamie. Now, I take it the councilman, AB, Jamie and M will now be setting up thier own patrol to help Harlows young girls and the women of Harlow. I sense the community spirit is strong within them and look forward to the commencement of their wish to serve their community with actions and not words.
Jsmie
2025-12-19 22:07:30
No patrol is better than a neo-Nazi linked patrol. However I do support stronger policing over vigilatism, yes.
Mr George
2025-12-19 23:53:44
Hit the news I think today that immigrants commit less crime than Brits do. Oh dear, so who do these thugs pretending to be our saviours acrually protect us against?! I would strongly suggest to my daughter and any woman to keep away from Essex Spartans, they are strangers pretending to be the law and are no safer than any other stranger.
Mr George
2025-12-19 23:57:52
Seamus, we do not know the criminal background of these pretend cops, they are unvetted as others said. So you saying its a no is presumptious.
Georgina bounce
2025-12-20 02:21:36
These are not the issue here . It’s nice to have people out there ; I think you need to ask and see what is true what isn’t I believed it all online and then I met them and asked and it was all fake .
Joel
2025-12-20 12:28:03
I’m a nurse and I’ve had my enhanced DBS done - I want to put something back into the community - Can I join? - I’m Filipino - Is that too black? - I’m a Christian
Mike
2025-12-20 14:54:14
The problem is so many people are making assumptions and not knowing the facts. The Spartans do not wear self styled uniforms they are the same as any other security vest so what is the problem and the Spartans are NOT linked to "far right" or "neo-nazi" groups like many ill informed people are quoting. The Spartans are vetted and just because the council and police don't have partnerships with the Spartans doesn't mean it is a bad thing, to get partnerships etc takes time this doesn't happen overnight and none of you keyboard warriors know what is going on behind the scenes because as far as I know they do have an appointment to speak with Essex police to gain support and also they are going through the process of registering as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). At the end of the day what the Spartans do is well within the law and nobody can stop what they are doing trying to help deter crime and make communities feel safer of which Harlow council and Essex police fail to currently do they don't patrol in the evenings when anti social behaviour is more prominent so how they have the audacity to say the stuff they are in their meetings is wholly wrong. So you can all keep crying and being keyboard warriors throwing your toys out of your pram but it won't change a thing. Hope you all have a lovely day.
Seamus
2025-12-20 15:17:42
Mr George you said ", so who do these thugs pretending to be our saviours acrually protect us against?". I know not one of this group that have claimed anything of the sort. We have a problem certainly in the town centre, the police know it, the councillors know it and if we are honest, we all know it. Certainly in the evenings the perception of the town centre is of a no go zone. Now, if a group, whether you like them or not, offers their free time to make some positive changes then that should be seen as a positive. Most of those unhappy about this group seem to be angry with themselves as so many of those criticising the group, are unwilling to step up themselves for their community so lash out at those who do. No one and I do mean no one, is being stopped from forming their own group who want to help the community and in particular young girls and women. Instead of yah boo them, I have to ask, why not join in instead and offer something positive as this group has? So if your concern is genuinely your community and the safety of young girls and women then please feel free to create an alternative group yourselves. The more the community has an input into the safety in the town centre in the evenings then the safer it could be.
Pete
2025-12-20 17:08:35
I am with Seamus on this one!!
Bob
2025-12-20 21:38:06
Well said Seamus. It's nice to know that there are people out there that are looking out for us women and young girls well done to these guys looking out for us......❤️
Timothy
2025-12-22 10:06:09
As an older man i would feel a let more safer with the Spartans around protecting our women and children, from foreign invaders who can't keep their hands to themselves, than our woke two tier police force.
A Tigerman
2025-12-23 11:59:08
I'd happily join their patrol. At least someone is looking out for the vulnerable people of Essex. The police cant even stop e-scooters, e-bikes, or knife crime.
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