A REPORT to be reviewed by Thurrock councillors next week says that four police officers funded by Thurrock Council are helping bolster the fight against crime in the borough.

The report to the cleaner greener and safer overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday (8 September) says the council has invested £750,000 over three years to provide more officers are on the beat in town centre trouble spots across the borough.

It highlights work the extra officers have been doing with the Thurrock division's Town Centre Police team which is reported to have prioritised tackling antisocial behaviour, protecting the vulnerable and tackling crimes against businesses.

For the three months ending July 22 the town teams across Thurrock attended 106 incidents, made 26 Arrests, spent 717 hours on patrol, recorded 30 investigations, conducted 74 stop and searches and had 44 results at court.

The report says: "The roles are dedicated to work within the key town centres to provide a proactive response to emerging crime trends and appropriate local issues as identified by the command team. "These teams directly support each of the Essex Police 4Vs priorities, namely: victims, violence, visibility, and vulnerability. The key purpose is to promote public confidence and to take a dynamic and flexible approach to community issues in our towns.

"Initially the council was planning to implement a team of officers, including a Sergeant for three years. Following the announcement from the Police, Crime and Fire Commissioner, that a proportion of the uplift in front line police officers in Essex would be dedicated to town centre policing within the county, in consultation with Essex Police it was agreed to review plans and align them with the broader Essex Police structures."

The extra officers have taken part in a number of operations, including Operation Smile against antisocial behavioiur and drug dealing around the Garrison parade shops, The Green, and surrounding roads in Purfleet-on-Thames.

The reports says currently officers are working with the Roads Policing Unit to implement 'Operation Savage' to address the concerns being raised by residents and members in relation to the anti-social driving of motorbikes around Civic Square and surrounding areas in Tilbury.

The officers will be funded until 2024.

Councillors will review the report on Thursday.