THURROCK'S recently appointed police commander showed contrition and apologised for the non-appearance of community officers at a public event this week – but also stepped up his personal contact-making with organisations in the borough.

As reported on Thurrock Nub News on Tuesday evening, officers who were due to attend a meeting of Tilbury Community Forum, where escalating levels of criminality in the town are causing concern, failed to show with any warning or apology on the night.

Thurrock divisional commander Chief Inspector Danny Barnes was quick to apologise, acknowledging the error by his local team - however he also stepped up to make new connections with another group in the area.

After the Tuesday 'no-show' CI Barnes issued the following statement: "I want to sincerely apologise for my officers being unable to attend the community meeting in Tilbury.

"The officers who were due to attend were called away to an emergency incident where people's safety was at risk.

"I want to be really clear that as the new District Commander, tackling anti-social behaviour is one of my top priorities.

"I know the impact it can have on the lives of our communities every day. I am committed to tackling these issues and I have plans in place to do so.

"Tilbury in particular is an area of key focus and I fully recognise how deeply concerned the community are about the issues they are experiencing.

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"I have spoken to the chair of the Tilbury Community Forum to express my apologies and also my commitment to working with him, the community, and our partners to deal with these issues."

Meanwhile CI Barnes, who took up post recently and stressed the importance of community links, has emphasised how important it is to engage with and listen to local residents after a positive meeting with Kishor Limbu of the Thurrock Nepalese Gurkha Community.

CI Barnes said: "It was an honour to meet with Kishor. The Gurkhas have a long and proud history of service, and it is clear that the Nepalese Gurkha community wants to play a positive and active role within Thurrock.

"For policing, these kinds of conversations are about listening, understanding local communities, and building trust. Strong relationships with community groups help us to better serve everyone and ensure concerns can be addressed.

"This meeting was about engagement and connection, and I welcome the opportunity to continue working with community leaders to support safety, cohesion, and confidence in policing across Thurrock."