UFO reports are recorded in line with National Standards of Incident Recording, whereby Essex Police is required to record matters specifically relating to a policing purpose.
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “The report of an alleged UFO has the potential to be an aircraft in distress or an instance of illegal aircraft activity.
“Although the purpose of the UFO incident type is to identify specific policing needs with regards to aircraft, some of these records may reflect sightings of alleged aerial phenomenon that elude obvious explanation.
“However, these are not of police interest and their possible origin is not a policing matter.”
Braintree – 2015
The informant reported he saw a ‘bright orange light’ in the sky before seeing it speed off.
It omitted no sound and came from the south of Braintree.
It was described as a vertical shaped aircraft, moving at very quick speeds.
Tendring – 2015
This caller reported a drone flying around the street after hearing a noise outside.
She pulled open the curtains and saw a buzzing and flashing object, with red and white bright lights.
Reportedly, the object which was ‘hard to describe’ was there for 20 minutes outside her address.
Tendring – 2015
This information called the police with concerns about multiple objects flying down London Road very quickly.
Difficult to describe, the green and red lights flew very close together and were flying at the height of a helicopter.
The objects also made a distinctive droning noise.
The report said: “She is concerned the police are going to think that she has gone mad but she has just seen another one go over head.”
Colchester – 2020
This caller reported three strange objects flying in the sky and said they were not aircraft but were too big to be drones.
One object was described as a ‘fireball’ and none of the objects, which were travelling in the same direction at speed, made any noise.
Colchester – 2020
Essex Police were called with concerns about 30 balls of light in a distinctive formation.
The balls of light shot across the sky.
Colchester – 2021
This information saw 27 lights going over a nearby road in a straight line, covering about one mile of the sky.
They could not hear anything and could not see any reports on flight tracker.
The lights were plain and not flashing.
Clacton – 2022
This caller told the police about a red flashing light in the sky, which was hovering stationary over the informant’s house.
After watching the object for 30 minutes, the caller said it could be a drone, but it was making them feel uneasy.
Colchester – 2023
This caller said: “I would like to report a sighting of an unidentified flying object.
“It occurred around 11.05am on 5 June.
“The object appeared oval in shape and it was a metallic colour with no apparent markings or light.
“The object was moving quickly across the sky very smoothly with no deviation in height or direction or without any affects of the weather is the only way I could describe it.
“There were no conventional aircraft characteristics at all.
“I have no explanation as to what this object could be.”
Colchester – 2024
An gold and orange coloured flare-like object was seen in the sky.
This informant said: “Some really strange lights have appeared in the sky.”
They suggested it could be a possible flare sent from an unconfirmed location.
Maldon – 2024
This person called the police with reports of some kind of parachute up as high as a helicopter would be.
The object, which was completely black in colour, had something dangling from beneath it.
They said: “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”