Heidi Williams

Dear Ms Pember, Thank you for your Regulation 28 (Before Inquest) report dated 13 January 2026 concerning the death of Heidi Audrey Diana WILLIAMS. Please pass on my sincere condolences to her family. I accept the concerns you have raised and set out the actions Essex Police is taking to address the risk of future deaths. Essex Police is now investigating the issues of alleged drug supply raised and this is being led by our Serious Violence Unit. A Senior Investigating Officer with extensive experience in complex drug supply networks and serious harm reduction is in charge. For your awareness, the investigation is progressing across several strategic lines of enquiry. Early analysis indicates that the supply of the substances taken by the deceased involves individuals operating across multiple force areas, with intelligence suggesting that elements of the supply chain may have originated outside Essex. There are also indications that communications linked to this case may have occurred overseas. We are developing the necessary international enquiries, working with partner agencies to understand potential movements abroad, and preparing for what may become a lengthy and complex overseas investigation. This approach ensures we are not constrained by geographic boundaries and that all credible lines of enquiry are pursued. We intend to take enforcement action, including arrests and searches of relevant premises, as soon as possible and at the earliest operationally safe opportunity. This is to secure evidence, protect the public, and prevent any continuation of harmful supply activity. We share the concern about the potential for future deaths linked to illicit and contaminated opioids. This is something that we routinely target, and we have prosecuted 62 County Lines nominals where evidence showed links to drug related deaths through the supply of contaminated opioids.

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED 2 I hope that this gives you assurance that we have taken ownership irrespective of geographic boundaries and technicalities about where a crime may have been committed. The core issue being that we tackle offending, disrupt supply and if possible, bring offenders to justice and in doing so do all we can to prevent future deaths. To ensure alignment across coronial jurisdictions and to support prevention of future deaths, we will update the Essex Coroner regarding the concerns you have raised and share relevant learning and operational actions arising from this investigation. Essex Police remain committed to acting swiftly, collaboratively, and decisively to prevent further loss of life linked to controlled drug supply. Please accept my apologies that you had to raise this issue with me. Should you require any additional information at this stage, please let me know.