Essex Chief Constable "staggered" by burglary blunder

The Chief Constable of Essex has criticised three of his own officers after a burglar was let off with a caution following a raid at a home in Chelmsford.

Jim Barker-McCardle said he was "staggered" a caution had been offered and has launched a misconduct investigation. It follows a burglary at a home in Galleywood near Chelmsford in which jewellery and a games console were taken.

Nicholas Alston, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, told ITV News Anglia that a thorough investigation is needed to establish what happened.