CONFLICTING impressions of the effectiveness of town centre policing in Grays have prompted a withering attack by a community leader who says the state of the area 'defies belief'.

On the day that town centre policing team leader Sgt Ben Forbes revealed he had been honoured for his work - and the Essex police force announced they had take action to stop a known thief operating in Grays, the chairman of a town centre residents' group weighed in to say it was time to face the truth.

He says the reality of life on the street is different to that which is being painted by the authorities - a view backed up by Thurrock Nub News editor Neil Speight.

Mr Speight says: "In the lead up to Christmas and on Christmas Day and Boxing Day I visited Grays High Street and the town centre and there can be little doubt that a lot of unsavory activity is going on - and I didn't see a police or enforcement officer at any point.

"On Christmas Eve there was open sale of dodgy cigarettes going on in Clarence Road - and security teams at the shopping mall turned a blind eye to it.

"There were people drinking in the street, some were very drunk, and there was abusive activity by gangs of men shouting at passers-by as they drank from bottles and cans.

"Beggars were stopping people and asking them for money and, all in all, it wasn't a nice place to be.

"And the reality is, it hasn't been a nice place to be for a long time, despite the multitude of press releases from the council and police about enforcement. The reality is far different from that painted by people in the council's ivory towers."

That is a view shared by Richard Suttling, chair of the Seabrooke Area Residents Association.

He spoke up to say: "We can't believe Grays has got to this stage with open drug taking and drinking and violence in the town centre.

"The High Street is poorly lit and poorly policed.

"Local people feel unsafe to enter the High Street after dark.

"Several times we have asked to meet with leading councillors but we have been ignored or refused at the last minute.

"We have worked closely with our own ward councillors and police to help and try to resolve the situation.

"It defies belief that Grays can be neglected in this way but the council can find £10 million to spend on new offices

"We have a simple message. Ditch the offices and spend it on what the residents want and need."