ESSEX Police has released figures that show crime in Thurrock has dropped by 12 per cent over the past two years.

In a release just a couple of days after two men were jailed for a violent machette attack and 24 hours after a national newspaper delivered a damning indictment of violent crime in the borough, the force has produced an upbeat overview on criminal activity in Thurrock, but says it is not complacement.

The release says: "Across Thurrock, 16,271 crimes were recorded between 1 January and 31 December 2021, a 12.2% decrease compared with pre-pandemic 2019. That equates to a drop of six crimes per day."

District Commander Chief Inspector Mark Barber says: "Fewer crimes mean fewer victims but we are not complacent and will continue working with our communities and our partners to ensure this downward trend continues.

"We work closely with them to look at the causes of crime, which have become more complex during the pandemic.

"And, during the past year, my officers have focused on arresting suspects who cause the highest threat, harm and risk to their victims and our communities.

"This includes working with teams of specialist officers who are committed to targeting such criminals, using information and intelligence provided by our communities to assist them.

"Within Thurrock, we have targeted much of our visible patrolling activity at areas we've identified as having higher levels of robbery and burglary. Officers have made more than 1,700 such patrols since last June.

"And this is producing results. As well as the overall drop in crime, over the past year, burglaries have fallen by 18.3%, robberies by 8.4% and assaults causing injury by 4.7%.

"Our five Town Centre Teams have continued to provide a highly-visible and proactive presence in Grays, Purfleet, South Ockendon, Stanford-le-Hope and Tilbury, working with local businesses and residents, which has helped to reduce crimes in the areas in which they operate.

"And Safer Streets funding has also contributed to making the centre of Grays a more welcoming place, with CCTV and lighting improvements in the High Street.

"My officers have also increased the number of visible policing patrols to make everyone feel safer when they are out later at night.

"Since we came out of lockdown last summer, my officers have also held numerous engagement events and Street Meets across the district, which have proved fruitful as we have been able to provide residents with crime prevention advice while finding out what the local issues are."