DETERMINED residents are being urged to patrol the streets of Canvey after dark in a bid to tackle crime.

Police are preparing to launch an Active Citizen scheme, which will see volunteers work alongside neighbourhood officers in areas where there have been a spate of burglaries or car crime.

It comes as members of Canvey Then and Nowvowed to join forces to hit the streets between 10pm and 5pm every Friday and Saturday to catch criminals in action and capture evidence for the police. They hope their presence will eventually deter criminals from targeting the island.

Sgt Mark McQuade, from Canvey neighbourhood policing team, said: “The more eyes we have and the more people we have patrolling the streets, the better it is.

“They won’t be actively getting involved with arresting criminals, but we want to see what is going on late at night and in the early hours of the morning. My intention is to get in touch with the team who run Canvey Then and Now and get them to help spread the word and encourage volunteers to come forward. We’re hoping to get a really good response.”

Mr McQuade says work is under way to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour on the island, with three community protection notices recently handed out to drunk people causing a nuisance in the town centre.

A father-of-three, who moved to Canvey from London six years ago, is leading a campaign to get residents involved in street patrols.

The man, who does not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said: “I do a lot of shift work and when I come on the island in the early hours, it’s like a ghost town. I can see why criminals think we’re an easy target.

“I have had my car vandalised a few times, but I’m shocked to hear about all the other crimes. We need to do something to protect our island.”

MP in talks with police inspector

Echo:

CASTLE POINT MP Rebecca Harris met a police chief to discuss crime fears on Canvey after several businesses were broken into and cars were vandalised.

Exclusive Fabrics, on Canvey Road, and the Blue Cafe, on High Street, have both been raided multiple times in the past month, with Fortuna Stores, Sophisticuts, Furtherwick Wines, Prima Dance and Shapes and Curls also being targeted.

Mrs Harris said the meeting with Insp Fergus Caulfield, of the Castle Point and Rochford local policing and partnership team, was a success and hopes the pair will work together closely in the future.

She said: “I was glad to hear positive action has been taken to deal with the recent incidents. Inspector Caulfield praised local residents who have come forward with information which has proved vital in supporting police work on the island.”