CHILDREN sent to Thurrock by social services in London boroughs are contributing to rising crime a councillor has said.

Barry Johnson, Thurrock Council's portfolio holder for education and children's social care has spoken up and says moving looked after young people out of London boroughs is a growing problem for Thurrock.

He said: "We need to talk to London boroughs about this and say before you send them to Thurrock think twice because it isn't necessarily helping by sending them here.

"We are so near to London they just hop on a train. We need to have a conversation with the London Boroughs because sending someone here to say keep them away from gang crime is helping.

"It has been apparent for some time that London boroughs are transferring their troubled children to get them away from gang culture. They transfer them to Thurrock quite legally but need to have a discussion about it."

Cllr Johnson added: "Thurrock is not far from London boroughs. It's 25 minutes away and they can visit their friends and come back again. I'm not saying we don't want them here but to think about it. Think where it is safer for them to be.

"We are now monitoring more offences. They are creeping up in the borough and it is quite clear that some offenders are children from elsewhere. Thurrock is not a culture change for them. We are just half an hour down the road.

"It needs to be considered on a case by case basis."

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Yesterday Thurrock Nub News reported on the pressures being brought on Thurrock as it copes with children, including asylum seekers, who are put in the care of local authorities by the government.