AN Essex police officer from the force’s Operational Support Group has been praised by a member of the public after coming to the aid of a woman in distress.

PC Jim O’Connell was at Lakeside shopping centre when he spotted a woman, who had recently undergone surgery, struggling to walk.

Without a second thought, the officer rushed over to lend a helping hand.

It was only after chatting to the woman that he learned she had recently been released from hospital and was braving the crowds to do Christmas shopping.

The woman later got in touch with the force to praise the officer for helping her.

Jim said: “It was my pleasure to be able to help the lady.

“I acted as any other officer would have in the same situation seeing someone struggling in visible discomfort.

“Although it was just a small gesture, hopefully I helped to make her day a bit better.”

Essex Police has implemented Project Servator as a new policing tactic to deter and detect criminal and terrorist activity, as well as to reassure the general public.

The project increases the opportunity for interaction between police officers and the public, provides further reassurance to the public and helps deter and detect other criminal perpetrators.

Project Servator has been launched at Lakeside shopping centre, Stansted Airport and Colchester but it will operate across the county.