Residents in fear after violent incidents in village around council-managed flats. Armed police were involved in early morning raid.
RESIDENTS in Orsett have expressed concern about the management of a unit of flats in the village which have seen violence and armed police breaking down doors in recent days.
And they have called on Thurrock Council to take stronger action.
Phillips House is a ten flat unit, spread across two buildings on Ridgwell Avenue which was initially designated for use by older people.
However, in recent times Thurrock Council has returned the property to its general housing stock, bringing younger or more difficult tenants to live alongside incumbent older folk and neighbouring residents.
There have been some issues in the recent past with one tenant on the verge of being evicted after being found to have been dealing in drugs from her property. However, before that happened she was found dead in her flat.
Things have come to a head with recent events.
On Saturday, 3 May, around 9pm, three men arrived at the location in a van, carrying what appeared to be knives of machetes and they entered one of the properties where neighbours reported violence followed.
Police have confirmed they were alerted to the incident which was treated as an aggravated burglary and their investigations have involved distributing a letter to residents in the area asking if they had witnessed the incident and had any information of the police.
Thurrock Nub News has seen a video of the arrival of the men which has been given to police. We have not published it because to do so would identify its origin and neighbours fear reprisals.
Nub News understands arrests have taken and possible charges may be made against the attackers.
In the early hours of last Saturday morning (24 May) peace was once again disturbed as a police raid on the property where the first attack took place happened.
It quickly escalated and officers, some of whom were armed, broke windows and battered down a door to get into the property, fearing for the health of the person inside who they were planning to arrest.
A statement about that incident from Essex Police says: "As part of a planned arrest attempt, officers arrived at a property in Ridgwell Avenue, in Orsett shortly after midnight on Saturday 24 May.
"Once at the scene, a man began to make threats to harm himself.
"Officers became increasingly concerned for the man's welfare and safely forced entry to the property.
"A man was then taken to hospital for treatment.
"He was subsequently discharged and arrested on suspicion of two counts of robbery.
"He was questioned and released on conditional bail while our investigation continues."
Again, CCTV footage of the dramatic incidents has been shown to Thurrock Nub News, but to publish it might again implicate residents and put them at risk.
One resident, who shared footage, but asked for it not to be published said: "We are in fear of reprisal. A neighbour, who shared footage with police, has had a threatening call to them, telling them to 'keep quiet if they knew what was good for them'.
"Clearly there is a lot of concern about this."
Nub News has been contacted by the mother of the man in the ground floor flat which was subject to the police raid, defending her son.
She told us: "My son is not a druggie and he has not done some if the things that have been said about him. This started with the attack on his home.
"He has some severe mental health issues and he wasn't a threat to the police when they went to the flat. They smashed the windows to get in because he had a fit and his life was in danger."
Residents have called on Thurrock Council to take a stronger line on anti-social behaviour in the flats and to evict known trouble-makers.
They have also questioned whether the flats are the right properties for people with significant problems as help and care is not readily available.
Several have told Nub News they have contacted the council, and ward councillors Barry Johnson and David Day, but added they have been rebuffed. Nub News has asked the councillors for comment, with Cllr Day responding (see below).
Today (Thursday, 29 May) the council issued the following statement: "Although the block was once only available to tenants aged over 55 years-old that has not been the case for some time and it is now used as general needs housing, available to tenants of all ages.
"Thurrock Council is aware of the police action over the weekend. The council will always work with the police to deal with tenants that are breaking the law or causing a nuisance for their neighbours."
Cllr Mark Hurrell, cabinet member for Social Housing, said: "We take all reports of anti-social behaviour that affects, or has been committed by, our tenants extremely seriously and take swift action to resolve these issues.
"Following reports officers will visit properties and often, as is the case here, out of hours patrols will take place to monitor the situation. Where evidence is found action will be taken against anti-social tenants including writing them to warn them about their behaviour and remind them of the action that can be taken through the tenancy agreement all council tenants agree to adhere to.
"If these warnings are not acted on the council can, and will, take legal action which could include evicting anti-social tenants.
"Our tenants have a right to a peaceful home and if that is being disturbed by inconsiderate neighbours we will not hesitate to take action.
"Reports of ASB in council properties can be made through our website at https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/anti-social-behaviour/dealing-with-anti-social-behaviour or by tenants contacting their estate officer. "
This afternoon Cllr Day contacted Nub News to say: "I echo the cabinet member for social housing & hope very much that he resolves these issues swiftly.
"It is not acceptable that good law-abiding residents should have to suffer inconsiderate neighbours and the council should not hesitate to take the appropriate action, which could include evicting anti- social tenants.
"My sympathies go out to the all the residents affected by these events & hope now that Nub News has featured the situation, it will bring attention and pressure on the police and council to swiftly conclude any continuous unacceptable behaviour of this nature at Phillips House."
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