A VULNERABLE female was spotted by police who were undertaking vehicle checks in Colchester.

Essex Police said a female was “taken to a place of safety” after being identified as being vulnerable.

Officers were located across different sites in the city carrying out vehicle checks as part of ‘Project Servator’.

The aim is to reassure the public whilst putting a stop to or reducing criminal activity in the area.

Officers are trained to spot the “tell-tale signs that someone is planning or preparing to commit an act of crime”.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Specially trained Project Servator officers from the city centre team were out over the weekend conducting vehicle checks at various locations across the city.

“Project Servator is a policing tactic that works to disrupt a wide range of criminal activity while providing a reassuring presence for the public.

“An important part of any Project Servator deployment is engagement with the public. Officers talk to passers-by about what the police are doing in the area and how they can help by being vigilant and reporting anything unusual.

“On this deployment a vulnerable female was identified and taken to a place of safety.”