LAKESIDE and the Chafford Hundred rail station surround will continue to be targeted by Essex Police after once again being identified as an anti-social behaviour hotspot. 

Last year the government and Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst announced £1.1 million would be spent on 13 hotspots, including Lakeside and Chafford Hundred in a project named Operation Dial.

Now Mr Hirst has announced £1.6m of new funding this year to drive down anti-social behaviour in 15 targeted hotspot areas, again including Lakeside and Chafford Hundred - the only named areas in Thurrock.

Police report Ooeration Dial has contributed in reports of anti-social behaviour dropping by 13 per cent across Essex. 

The latest money will be used for extra high-visibility police patrols, community safety patrols, youth outreach work and crime intervention projects. in 15 hotspots across the county.   

Mr Hirst said: "I'm very pleased to announce £1.6m is now available for a second year of targeted anti-social behaviour intervention.  

"Our model uses data to identify areas of high anti-social behavior and then target those areas with funding support and resources in the form of patrols and community intervention.   

"This targeted-action model works, it's an investement in offering reassurance and building confidence in local communities as well as providing more opportunities to identify and pursue those responsible for crime and anti-social behaviour.  

"This is why we always urge people to report crime when we are on our many public engagements across the county. We use your reports to identify areas in need of extra resources and then we target those areas. 

"We can't identify those areas or target resources without your reports."  

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet of Essex Police, the NPCC lead for anti-social behaviour, said: "We've been successful in driving down anti-social behaviour across Essex. 

"That said, there is more to do, so the investment and focus on ASB will continue. 

"ASB has more than halved in five years, and is down in every district in the county in the past 12 months. This shows our approach is getting results and making a real difference to people's lives. 

"ASB is not 'low-level', it damages communities. It's unacceptable that anyone should feel intimidated or harassed in their own home or local area. 

"Our officers have been a highly visible presence in the hotspots where residents have reported issues and we will continue to work alongside our partners in local authorities and other agencies to tackle offending and the underlying causes." 

In the past year, reports of ASB incidents fell in all districts of Essex. 

Police say ASB is down by32% in Thurrock. 

The 15 agreed and identified ASB hotspots for the next year are:    

• Basildon, St Martin's Square   
• Braintree Market Place   
• Brentwood High Street   
• Chelmsford North Avenue   
• Chelmsford Parkway   
• Colchester High Street   
• Colchester Greenstead   
• Castle Point, Canvey Island   
• Epping, Debden   
• Harlow, The Gates   
• Southend, Esplanade   
• Southend, Hamlet Court Road   
• Tendring, Clacton town centre – Pier ward  
• Tendring, Jaywick   
• Thurrock, Lakeside, including Chafford Hundred Station

Earlier this year Mr Hirst was in Thurrock with then borough MP Dame Jackie Doyle-Price to check on the project. 

MP and cop boss call in at Lakeside to check out anti-social behaviour initiative | Local News | News | Thurrock Nub News | by Nub News Reporter