POLICE in Thurock have praised the courage of a young boy robbed at knifepoint in Grays town centre.

On Sunday, 8 June officers from Grays' local policing team attended an incident at the town's train station.

Following this, an unrelated incident unfolded when a 12-year-old boy approached officers in visible distress, reporting that he had just been robbed at knife point.

Local Policing Team officers, supported by officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, responded immediately and four suspects aged between 13 and 17 were swiftly detained nearby.

A street identification and search was conducted, leading to the arrest of all four individuals. During the searches, a knife was recovered, and the victim's stolen property was safely returned.

The investigation is now being led by British Transport Police and remains ongoing.

A statement from essex Police says: "We commend the bravery of the young victim and the professionalism of the officers involved.

"This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of community trust and a rapid police response."