LESS than 24 hours after Essex's Assistant Chief Constable praised Essex residents for responsible behavior over the Easter weekend in adhering to social distancing guidelines, Thurrock Council has revealed that in the borough alone, its officers tackled 1,572 people about their questionable behavior.

That's just 23 less than the police dealt with across the whole county – reported on Thurrock Nub News today – which praised Thurrock for its adherence to the rules.

Notwithstanding that, the leader of Thurrock Council, Cllr Rob Gledhill, said: "I would like to thank the vast majority of residents who followed the government advice and stayed home other than for essential journeys or daily exercise last weekend.

"It's a shame to see that national guidance still isn't getting through to some people with our officers and the Police still having to speak with so many over the Easter weekend.

"Anyone who ignores the government's advice, young or old, is putting our most vulnerable residents' lives at risk, creating a situation in which the virus will continue to spread, possibly extending the amount of time all of us will have to spend observing these restrictions and putting the NHS at risk.

"Police do have powers to enforce the government's social distancing advice when necessary and equally the council has the ability to close parks, something we have so far avoided in Thurrock.

"So I would again urge the minority of residents who are flouting government advice to stay at home with the exception of shopping for food, picking up medicine, for work where it can't be done from home and for exercise just once a day. This will help protect the NHS and save lives."

In its statement Thurrock Council says: "Over the Easter bank holiday weekend Thurrock Council's Environmental Enforcement Officers, working in partnership with Police, spoke with over 1,500 people, including groups, to remind them of social distancing rules and the advice to stay at home in line with government coronavirus guidelines.

"Over the course of the weekend, a 10-strong team of officers visited parks in the borough a total of 96 times and spoke with 1,572 individuals, including groups, to remind them about social distancing. They also put tape and barriers back up on a number of play areas which had been closed following government guidelines because it is not possible for residents, including families, to observe social distancing when using them.

"Officers also issued 10 fixed penalty notices for anti-social behaviour including littering and spitting, and two people were fined for fly-tipping.

"Nearly everyone that council and police teams spoke with about social distancing immediately complied with the advice given, and the team received a warm and friendly response from the vast majority."

Meanwhile in Tilbury, local councillor John Allen has been scathing about the lack of enforcement in the town. He took to social media to post a picture of a group of young people loitering and said: "Again we see little or no action being taken against the ongoing issues of anti-social behavior and loitering that continues to blight Tilbury town centre."