IN the week that Thurrock councillors will hear there has been a reduction in the amount of anti-social behaviour in the borough – particularly in Grays - local town policing teams have detailed they have had a busy time lately.

Thursday's Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview Scrutiny Committee will consider a report saying offences have dropped – though violence has risen.

Thurrock Police took to social media today (Monday, 29 June) to relate a number of incidents – including a man found unconscious in Stanford-le-Hope.

That happened on Friday evening and was the second significant incident of the evening.

Earlier two officers on foot patrol in the town were made aware of two males who had stolen items from the High Street Co-op. Following a short foot chase both males were detained and arrested for theft offences.

The same evening, three officers attended reports of an assault in the town and located an unconscious male with injuries. An investigation into a possible assault causing grievous bodily harm is now ongoing.

Also on Friday, in Grays two officers attended an incident following reports of anti-social behaviour. On arrival officers arrested a female for possession of cannabis and being drunk and disorderly.

On Saturday officers patrolled in Tilbury, Purfleet and Grays. Five community protection warnings were issued in Tilbury following ongoing anti-social behaviour on Calcutta Road. Officers seized a vehicle in Purfleet after establishing the driver was disqualified from driving and did not have insurance.

Thurrock Police have also charged a man following reports of a disturbance in South Ockendon over the weekend. John Morgan, 30, of no fixed address, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and causing actual bodily harm. He appeared at Southend Magistrates' Court today (Monday, 29 June).

The incident followed reports of an altercation inside a building in Darenth Lane at around 4am on Saturday, 27 June. A woman reported she had suffered swelling to the face and a man was taken to hospital with a serious head injury. He remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Following reports of anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime in Woodside Close and at Orsett Heath patrols were mounted in those areas on Friday and Saturday evening.

A spokesperson said: "Officers spoke to local residents and we will continue to patrol this area.