Shocking stats include more than 200 rapes a year recorded in borough - Report says: "We have seen a decrease in the percentage of residents who have confidence in police in Thurrock". Residents’ highest concerns were around drug dealing and knife crime
By Christine Sexton - Local Democracy Reporter
4th Sep 2024 | Local News
THURROCK saw more than 5,000 violent crimes and 500 sex assaults according to latest figures, despite a fall in crime in the borough.
And the report that discloses the statistics says an increasing number of residents have declining confidence in police ability to cope with crime and protect them.
A report produced by the Thurrock Community Safety Partnership says the borough has seen a decrease in overall crime rates but sex offences, violent crime and domestic abuse remain high despite the overall downward trend.
It is recorded there were 16,014 crime offences, a fall of 5.7 per cent on the previous year, according Essex Police data from the year from April 2023 to March 2024. The partnership's 2023/24 report, which will be discussed by Thurrock Council's Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday (10 September) shows there were 5,688 violent crimes, down by 6.2 per cent.
A significant number of crime incidents have been around the Lakeside area, where gang activity has been prevelent. The problem in that area does not seem to be abating with a regular occurance of violence, including this incident in July this year.
In the period covered by the report, (from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023) police recorded 507 sex offences (205 rapes recorded and 317 other sex offences), 189 robberies and 671 burglaries. There were 2,216 vehicle offences, including thefts and interference, 428 hate crimes and 1,750 cases of domestic abuse.
Hate crime in Thurrock remains high, with 2.66 offences per 1,000 population, compared to 2.07 offences per 1,000 in Essex.
Laying out its priorities for 2024/25, the partnership said residents' highest concerns were around drug dealing and knife crime and confidence in police was lagging.
The report said: "Year on year we have seen a decrease in the percentage of residents who have confidence in police in Thurrock and think that they're doing a good job. However, positively, the percentage of residents who think crime and anti-social behaviour has become more of a problem has also reduced."
The partnership said there has been an increase in the number of young people being exposed to risky behaviour particularly in regard to vaping, nitrous oxide and edible cannabis.
It added: "The national issue of gang-related violence continues to be a risk to the communities of Thurrock and whilst positive activity to address there is an ongoing risk in relation to emergence of gangs to fill any vacuum."
There are no known county lines operating currently in Thurrock, but there are said to be three "drugs lines".
The Thurrock Community Safety Partnership is a statutory body consisting of the local authority, Essex Police, Essex Fire and Rescue Service, the Probation Service and the Integrated Care Body.
Knives and gang crime around Lakeside: A recurring issue: See other Nub News stories.
https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/teen-barred-after-lakeside-knife-incident-229590
https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/lakeside-operation-keeps-police-profile-high-227731
https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/violent-raid-by-gang-on-lakeside-store-160860
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