ESSEX Police have highlighted the work of a Grays-based officer as it marks the UK's first Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, organised by community safety specialists Resolve.

All through this week forces across the country have been turning the spotlight on how police, councils, housing providers, fire services and community groups keep communities safe.

Essex Police say: "With summer holidays now starting and the lifting of coronavirus restrictions, more people will be out and about and enjoying our towns, countryside and coastal areas.

"That also brings the risk of increased anti-social behaviour. While some of this will be down to people deliberately causing problems, there may be others who are unaware their behaviour is intimidating or disruptive."

As part of the campaign the work of Grays-based PC Stuart Mackinnon has been highlighted.

He and his colleagues have been investigating reports of young people throwing eggs at shops, running through shops and throwing things around.

He said: "We work closely with Thurrock Council, who stop them as well, and British Transport Police, who stopped a group at the railway station recently when they were throwing stones at the trains.

"Now I have sent letters to the parents of the young people involved to let them know their kids were involved in anti-social behaviour. Hopefully that will stop it but, if any of them keep doing it, it'll be taken a bit further.

"But we're trying to stop it before it gets that far and to get the parents involved in their community rather than criminalising their kids."

PC Mackinnon said the impact of lockdown may be partly to blame for some of the anti-social behaviour.

He added: "Things are getting better and the issues that were happening are a lot less than they were, even a couple of months ago."

Thurrock Council leader, Cllr Rob Gledhill, said: "We know that anti-social behaviour is a cause of real concern for many of our residents and that is why we are committed to working closely with Essex Police to ensure that those who commit these offences are stopped in their tracks and the punishment they receive serves as a warning to others.

"There are now five town centre police teams in the borough based in Grays, Stanford-le-Hope, South Ockendon, with four officers funded by £1 million from Thurrock Council to create additional teams in Tilbury and Purfleet-on-Thames. These officers provide reassurance to residents and have achieved some tremendous results in apprehending and tackling crime and anti-social behaviour..

"Recently we have received an additional £540,000 funding from the government and the Essex Police Fire and Crime Commissioner to make Grays Town Centre safer by providing CCTV cameras, improved street lighting and increasing the capacity of our enforcement teams.

"We have made innovative use of Public Space Protection Orders to tackle anti-social behaviour in Grays Town Centre and prevent unauthorised car meets in West Thurrock.

"Thurrock Council is committed to putting a stop to anti-social behaviour because everyone deserves to feel safe where they live and within their community."

Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan said: "Anti-social behaviour impacts communities across our county in different ways and in the worst cases can change the way people live their lives.

"We don't want anyone to feel intimidated where they should feel safe – whether that's in their home, in town centres and parks, on the roads or out on the water.

"Just as there are various types of anti-social behaviour, there are also a number of ways we can deal with it. Sometimes just speaking to people to highlight the impact of their behaviour, or using restorative justice, can put an end to the problem.

"But we also use dispersal orders, closure orders for properties, criminal behaviour orders and other legislation where necessary.

"Working closely with local councils, partner agencies and our communities is key to finding long term solutions for persistent problems and we encourage anyone affected by anti-social behaviour to report it.

"We know more than half of people who are victims of anti-social behaviour don't report it, but it's really important you do so we can then deal with it."

You can report incidents of anti-social behaviour on the Essex Police website or ring 101.