THE Police and a local council have been demonstrating their zero-tolerance approach to eradicating anti-social behaviour from a town in south-west Essex.

Officers from South Ockendon's Neighbourhood Policing Team have been working closely with Thurrock Councils Anti-Social Behaviour Team identifying known troublemakers and holding them to account.

Over two days in August, the teams targeted the Garrison Estate in Purfleet and from this those identified were called to a Final Intervention Panel in October made up of police and council officers. Here the evidence of their crimes was put to them and a decision made on action to be taken, ranging from Warnings to Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC's) and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO's) to Possession Proceedings. On the day these sanctions were agreed:

3 Formal Warnings

5 ABC's

3 ASBO Applications

3 Possession Proceedings

1 referral to Environmental Health

2 referrals to the borough's Youth Inclusion and Support Panel

Those individuals who failed to attend will still be given their punishment in their absence, but will not obviously have the opportunity to discuss their plight.

Sgt Anna Brennan believes the new initiative is working to help educate those who cause a nuisance to others and show the hardship their offences have on their victims.

"We've teamed up with our colleagues at the local council to help stamp out anti-social behaviour in this town and make it an even nicer, safer place for residents to live in," said Sgt Brennan. "We will continue to hold these successful, productive sessions until all the issues have been dealt with.

Sgt Brennan added: "We've found that, by working with our partners, we can help make a difference to not only the law-abiding residents, but also to the offenders who sometimes don't realise the nuisance they cause."

Andrew Meyer from the councils ASB Team said:

"This operation is an excellent example of working together. Perpetrators need to understand that we share information and take a tough stance on ASB. Thurrock is not a place where ASB will ever be accepted".

People concerned with ASB in Thurrock should visit the boroughs dedicated website: www.unwelcome.co.uk