Colchester: Text Service Set Up In Murder Investigation

Essex Police have been telling Heart they are using social media as a way of getting information about the murder of a Clacton teenager.

Jay Whiston was stabbed to death at a house party in Marlowe Way in Colchester on September 9th, 2012.

Normally in police investigations anyone with information are able to call officers or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously.

Now, for the first time, people can text or Blackberry Message police with information.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Parkes is leading the investigation: 'We have been using Facebook, we have been using Twitter. We are releasing details on how people can contact us through Blackberry Messaging and through text message.

"We are keen to use all the social media outlets available to us."

DCI Parkes continued to tell Heart that using all forms of social media is a way of reaching out to a younger generation: "All those at the party were in the late teens. So it's about making sure we're providing opportunities for them to be able to contact us using the media that's most accessible to them."

The move just a few months after Essex Police put out adverts on Facebook for information following a fire in Harlow which killed a mother and her five children.

Dr Abdul Shakoor's wife and five children died after a fire at their home in Barn Mead, Harlow on Monday, October 15, 2012.

For the first time Essex Police has an advertisement on Facebook that will only appear on the Facebook accounts of people living in Harlow, aged from teenagers to 55 years old.

The advert takes people through to the Essex Police Facebook page and a renewed appeal for information.

Anyone with information on the murder of Jay Whiston is urged to contact detectives on 01206 576845, text them on 07841 112146, Blackberry Message (BBM) them on 264CC35E, email them on scdappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.