THE Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex will be hosting a community safety public meeting for Thurrock residents next month.

Eleven months on from his last meeting in the borough, at the same venue, Roger Hirst will be at Tyrells Hall Club at 67 Dock Road, Grays (RM17 6EY) on Monday, 2 November from 7pm to 8pm.

The public meeting is part of the PFCC's ongoing engagement schedule, where the Commissioner hosts a public meeting each year in each of the 14 districts of Essex.

The Commissioner's office says all Thurrock residents are welcome, no booking is required and topics for discussion include:

• Illegal e-scooter use
• anti-social behaviour
• speeding and road safety

It's ten years since Mr Hurst was elected as the Conservative Police commissioner and just weeks after winning the vote, he also faced residents in Thurrock at his first face-to-face public meeting.

The key issue put before him is still on the agenda a decade later. Residents told Mr Hirst at the first meeting about the "living hell" of anti-social behaviour in the borough.

Mr Hirst said "prevention was key" and studies had shown catching anti- social behaviour early was key to stopping it from turning into criminal behaviour later on.

2016 line-up: Thurrock Chief Inspector Leigh Norris, PCC Roger Hirst and Steve Cox, Director Environment and Place at Thurrock Council

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The meeting in June 2016 was also used to launch 'pioneering cross-sector plans' for a new Community Safety Hub, with around eight police officers, PCSOs and welfare officers. Plus an expanded cadet force.

The new posts were to be bolted on to the then existing Thurrock Community Policing Team of around 21 officers and five Special Constables based at South Ockendon, making 34 in total.

At the last reported count, today's dedicated local footprint of officers comprises 17 Community Policing Officers, seven Town Centre Team Officers, and three Sergeants who cover localised high-street anti-social behaviour. That's 27 officers.

2016 also saw the closure of Tilbury and South Ockendon police stations, five years after Corringham police station closed. Police operations are now run from its only station, on Brook Road in Grays.

Ahead of next month's meeting, Mr Hirst said: "Public meetings like this are a vital part of how we stay connected with our communities. It's a chance to listen, to share what's being done, and to work together to make Thurrock district an even safer place to live and work."

The purpose of the meeting is for residents to raise community safety issues with the PFCC, Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue representatives, along with Thurrock Community Safety Partnership, and residents will be able to put questions to the panel.