Thurrock Community Policing team news article
October 2017
By JoJo Mitchell
Thurrock’s Community policing team started off October with a joint operation on October 3 alongside Thurrock Council’s licencing department, visiting numerous addresses across the district that have been identified as homes of multiple occupancy.
Our main role was to check that the facilities were up to standards, and to gather intelligence for Operation Aidant which is Essex Police’s initiative to tackle Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery.
The team also took part in a large scale multi-agency warrant in an industrial area within South Ockendon on October 4, where a chop-shop was identified and stolen vehicles recovered, and a substantial amount of red diesel was located and removed by HMRC.
The Stay Safe project on October 5 saw PC’s Neil Brand and Rowan Perrior giving crime prevention advice to some of Thurrocks most vulnerable adults at an event in Corringham.
Sergeant Lee Stannard was in the right place at the right time on October 6. As he was purchasing a cup of coffee he was made aware of a stolen vehicle travelling along the A13. Sergeant Stannard situated himself along the route and quickly located the vehicle and stopped it, arresting the driver for theft of motor vehicle before he could even finish his coffee.
Also on October 6 the team worked alongside Thurrock Council’s licencing officers to complete Operation Benison licencing checks at various licenced premises across the district.
On the weekend of October 7 & 8 the team completed Operation Wagtail patrols in West Thurrock, targeting “boy-racers” and people causing a nuisance within the area, with PC Rowan Perrior issuing an FPN (fixed penalty notice) to one road user for not complying with the PSPO (public space protection order).
October 12 saw us accompanying Thurrock Council’s Kingdom officers in Grays town centre, enforcing the Designated Public Places Order within the area.
A large intelligence led warrant in Thurrock on October 12 saw the team working alongside the financial fraud team on Operation Scarab, securing 5 arrests across the district.
PC’s Neil Brand and Rowan Perrior completed patrols with Thurrock council’s PASS (protection and support service) team on October 13 & 27, patrolling areas in order to identify youths at risk, and offer support services.
Another 2 arrests were made by our team in West Thurrock on October 14 as part of operation Oxbow, which was an investigation into a series of lorry breaks.
PC Stephen Fraser issued a fixed penalty notice to a male breaching the Public Space Protection order on October 15, the male was consuming alcohol and had been urinating within the area. The male was then given a direction to leave notice ensuring he was removed from the location for 24 hours.
Another example of good timing on October 16 was when two of our newest officers who are currently on an attachment to our team, PC’S Rhoddy Slater and Jack Harrison attended a petrol station to fill a marked police vehicle with diesel and ended up arresting a shoplifter.
Teamwork was the order of the day on October 21, when PC Hatfield initiated an arrest attempt on a male wanted for numerous offences. The male made off and after a short foot pursuit by PC’s Adam Colbear, Jack Harrison and Rhoddy Slater the male was located and arrested by PC Slater. PC Gemma Britton then dealt with the male in custody successfully securing 4 charges and a remand.
PC Hatfield has been dealing with an ongoing issue with youths causing damage to a building site in Chadwell St Mary. After gathering enough evidence to identify the youths and prove their involvement. PC Hatfield completed the investigation, interviewed the youths and worked with their parents and the youth justice system to secure restorative justice.
A force wide burglary initiative saw Thurrock officers teaming up with our Thurrock Volunteer Police Cadets and Active citizens on Operation Mercury, a week long project which started on October 23 and included officers giving crime prevention advice in participating Co-operative stores across Thurrock, and door knocking/leaflet dropping in specifically targeted areas offering crime prevention advice.
PC Rhoddy Slater took the lead in Operation Sacrifice on the weekend on October 21 & 22, targeting areas where off road bikes are known to cause a nuisance. New intelligence was gathered which will assist in targeting repeat offenders.
October 25 saw the start of a 3 night operation in Tilbury. Operation District was ran by PC Harrison and saw us teaming up with our Active Citizens and Thurrock Council’s Anti-social behaviour team to target areas in Tilbury that have had reports of ongoing anti-social behaviour.
An ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) activation on October 29 saw a great result from the team when PC’s Rob Watts and Stephen Fraser located the van in questioned, which was stolen and on false plates, and followed the vehicle which started to drive more erratically due to the presence of the officers. PC’s Paul Glensman and Gemma Britton headed the van off from another road, and the two police vehicles were able to bring the van to a stop. The rear of the van contained 12 large canisters of petrol which had reportedly been stolen by “bilking”. Three males were arrested for theft of motor vehicle, theft of petrol and being in possession of an offensive weapon.
We would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to our Active Citizens and Volunteer Police Cadets for their hard work and for giving up their time this month. We are currently recruiting Volunteer Police Cadets for Thurrock, please see www.essex.police.uk/cadets for more information.
Come along to our next local community meeting on November 9 at the Purfleet Community Hub, River court Purfleet, from 5:30pm and discuss local priorities and issues.
