THE long-running issue of anti-social behaviour in Corringham town centre has again come to the fore – with yet another call for residents to report incidents to police.

The issue is far from new – and goes back years with many people pointing a finger at the closure of Corringham Police Station in late 2011. But even beyond that, the subject was a regular talking point at local community forums.

The latest tranche of local councillors to get uptight about the issue are all Reform councillors elected in May this year.

They have taken on the mantle of trying to improve the situation and have just released this statement:

"This week, your Corringham & Fobbing Councillors held a meeting with our local police to raise serious concerns about the increasing number of individuals, predominantly young males, wearing face coverings and riding e-scooters around Corringham town centre, surrounding roads and neighbouring wards.

"We highlighted reports of activity along Springhouse Road, Giffords Cross Road, Lampits Hill, Fobbing Road, and the various alleyways connecting these areas.

"This is not an issue unique to Corringham and Fobbing. Similar concerns are being raised across other wards in the borough and nationally.

"The police are aware of these concerns, but they need your help.

"While the police recognise the issues being reported, it is vital that residents report suspicious or concerning behaviour. Every report helps build a clearer picture of what is happening, identify patterns of activity and provide the police with the information they need to investigate and take appropriate action."

However, you can turn the pages back through the years and the same messages have been coming from Conservative, Labour and independent councillors.

The continued call to residents to report crime has begun to sound like a monotonous unfulfilled mantra.

In 2021 Shane Ralph, who represented Stanford East and Corringham Town ward raised concern after an increased number of incidents in the area including groups of teens that had been threatening shop owners with knives and issuing racial abuse as well as lighting fires in stairwells and throwing eggs at shop windows and staff.

Mr Ralph said: "In recent weeks the town centre has been targeted and, as a result of this, some local traders are even shutting an hour early.

"I have met with the police and Thurrock Council's anti-social behaviour team and took them around to speak to the local shop owners that had been targeted.

"I believe this was a real eye-opening experience for them, as we know compared to other areas, we are told Corringham is a low crime area.

"What we did find out is that local shops do regularly report to the police but there seems to be a problem how the location of that crime is recorded in the police stats.

"A number of actions will be put in by the police business team to support our local traders."

And at the time police called on people to report more incidents.

In 2023 people again spoke up about their frustration following a store raid by youths.

A local shopworker told Nub News: "At meetings they tell us to report crimes to build up a true picture of what is happening, but then it seems we are just ignored. Corringham has been left to fend for itself, it seems."

And at the time police called on people to report more incidents.

In October 2024 councillors once more highlighted a lack of visible policing in the wake of considerable local concern.

Then a Homesteads ward councillor, Gary Byrne said: "I have been trying to get a positive response from the police following repeated concerns expressed to me personally by residents, shoppers in the centre of Corringham and visitors to the town. It's also been repeatedly raised at the forum - and on local social media.

"It has been somewhat frustrating as I don't believe that police have given full recognition to the depth of people's concern."

Thurrock Police then launched an operation in Corringham in the hope of tackling anti-social behaviour and there was a brief increase in police presence, but it quickly faded.

And at the time police called on people to report more incidents.

But problems with young people in the town centre have continued. In January this year a gang was spotted using catapults in Corringham Town Park. Other incidents took place in neighbouring Stanford and at Hardie Park.

So this week's call by the latest raft of councillors is nothing new.

Nor is a police response calling on people to report more incidents.

The Essex force says: "You can report concerns directly to Essex Police, either online or by telephone.

Report online here: https://www.essex.police.uk/.../af/how-to-report-a-crime/

"If it is safe to do so, photographs or other evidence can also be submitted through the police's reporting service. Please do not put yourself at risk or confront anyone."

The message was welcomed by today's councillors who echoed the words of their predecessors, saying: "As your local councillors, we strongly encourage residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

"We will continue working closely with Essex Police to ensure residents' concerns are heard and acted upon.

"Corringham & Fobbing deserves to be a safe place for everyone who lives, works and visits here.

"We will not tolerate criminal activity, including suspected drug dealing or drug running, on our streets. Let's work together to keep Corringham safe."

COMMENT by Nub News editor Neil Speight:

Once again I find myself reporting on local concern by residents who fear their homes, lives and communities are being put at risk by a lack of visible policing - which has undoubtedly given offenders the belief that they can get away with criminal acts because no police officers are in the area.

When I first arrived in Thurrock in January 2004 one of the very first meetings I attended was a local forum held at the then Hassenbrook School.

Residents were very angry about the problem of young people and disorderly behaviour in Corringham, particularly around the shopping precinct between Gordon Road and St John's Way and the wider town centre including the town park.

I was editor of the Thurrock Gazette at the time and it made its front page and also the Echo. More than 22 years later I'm typing out almost the same story. Countless divisional police chiefs have come and gone and I have some sympathy with the current incumbent, CI Danny Barnes. He will not thank me for saying this, but in my opinion having seen him work since his arrival in February, he's an old-fashioned copper hog-tied by budget constraints and impractical ideology. And having a politician police commissioner pulling the purse strings can't help either.

But the fact is - and I have used it myself many times - the 101 telephone system, or its online reporting counterpart, doesn't work and is not aligned with operational protocols. Pretending it does is a nonsense.

I've sat in magistrates and courts for enough years to know the judicial system is broken. It does not scare would-be criminals.

And there is little fear of the law on the streets. Those of us with our eyes and ears open around Thurrock have seen the brazen flaunting of the law by youngsters in balaclavas, on souped up bikes or scooters and they know they can act with impunity.

I applaud the reform councillors for stepping up to the plate but I fear, like those that have gone before, they will find they are banging a drum that has no beat. and there are no bobbles on that beat either!

Related ASB stories:

2025: Police launch Operation Stronghold: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/police-step-up-profile-in-252319

2024 – Violent incidents: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/police-statement-following-two-violent-incidents-in-stanford-and-corringham-233860

2023 -Shop staff member is injured by young gang members: https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/shop-worker-struck-and-injured-with-iron-bar-as-he-intervened-to-protect-boy-from-gang-town-store-is-raided-is-corringhams-crime-getting-out-of-hand-190485