ESSEX Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst, who is set to meet residents at an event in Thurrock next month, may find himself facing questions about why the borough has missed out on cash targeting anti-social behaviour (ASB) hotspots.

The office of the commissioner recently issued details of a £200,000 investment that will fund extra high-visibility patrols, youth outreach and targeted action against trouble-makers.

Eight areas were highlighted across the county and each hotspot has received funding for three additional police patrols and one Community Safety Partnership patrol every week for 22 weeks, with activity targeted at the days and times when ASB is taking place.

It may come as a surprise to Thurrock residents who frequently highlight ASB as a main concern that the borough isn't one of the selected areas.

They are

• Canvey Town Centre

• Brentwood Town Centre

• Stanway/Tollgate in Colchester

• Harwich/Dovercourt

• Braintree Town Centre

• Debden in Epping Forest

• The Stow in Harlow

• Wickford Town Centre and Cranfield Park, Basildon.

Weekly detached youth outreach work is taking place in each area, alongside targeted days and nights of action, combining enforcement with early intervention to tackle persistent problems and improve public confidence.

As part of Operation Guardian, the programme has been developed using ASB data alongside information from local neighbourhood policing teams, with funding focused on locations where visible patrols and youth engagement are expected to have the greatest impact.

Mr Hirst said: "Tackling anti-social behaviour in Essex remains a priority. The latest figures show a rise in anti-social behaviour, a clear warning that progress cannot be taken for granted even though recorded incidents are down when compared to previous years by two-thirds since 2016.

"There can be no complacency when the trend starts moving in the wrong direction. "That is why £200,000 has been invested in additional patrols, targeted activity and early intervention in the communities where the level of anti-social behaviour requires further intervention.

"I want to see a more robust response to persistent anti-social behaviour. Repeat problems must be tackled with those responsible facing the full force of the law. Essex residents rightly want to see action when they report concerns.

"There is a relentless focus on this and I will continue to hold the Chief Constable to account. The recent trend of anti-social behaviour incidents must be reversed."

Thurrock has not been left out of police initiatives to tackle crime.

Currently, among its rolling programme of targeted campaigns Thurrock Council and the Thurrock Neighbourhood Policing Team, the following remain active:

• Operation Dial: A heavily funded, multi-zone initiative run by Essex Police that utilizes high-visibility hotspot patrols to target adolescent nuisance, rowdy behaviour, and anti-social car usage. In the Lakeside and Chafford Hundred zone alone, officers completed over 2,000 hours of targeted patrols.
• Operation Valour: A long-running partnership between Thurrock Council and Essex Police specifically focused on curbing youth anti-social behaviour in Tilbury. It employs strict legal measures like rare court-ordered ASB injunctions (which include the power of arrest) alongside tenancy warnings to curb persistent offenders.
• Operation Culture: A combined multi-agency project set up to tackle aggressive street drinking, public intoxication, and rowdiness in Grays Town Centre.

Thurrock Council's portfolio holder for Veterans, Enforcement & Environment is Ockendon councillor and former Met Police officer Russell Cherry was asked to comment on the ommission of Thurrock from the list and anti-social behaviour in the borough, ahead of publication of this story but he has not responded.