A CRUNCH meeting will be held between Castle Point’s MP and police bosses after a spate of crimes on Canvey.

Rebecca Harris and Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington will meet this week to discuss crime on the island and how much power the police have.

The meeting follows a third incident at the Canvey Road Co-Op store since its opening in August last year, as crooks broke in and stole bottles of alcohol.

In the wake of the crime, calls for a curfew on young people across the whole island have been made.

Rebecca Harris said: “Of course I am very concerned to hear these reports and am already meeting with the Chief Constable this week to discuss this.

“The police do have powers to use dispersal orders at present, which is effectively a curfew, and I will ask the Chief Constable if he believes he needs more powers in this area.”

Tori Kraken, owner of Lady Kraken Ink, in Canvey Road, said: “I would 100per cent support it. Crime really has got worse over the last couple of years. The abuse some people get is disgusting. Children don’t need to be out late, it should get to 9pm and that should be it.”

Jill Newell, owner of Jilly Beans Cafe, in Furtherwick Road, said young people need more activities to engage with.

She said: “With a curfew, I think ‘great idea, but how do you manage it?’.

“With an island-wide thing it would need strict policing. What young people need is a lot more things to do. We get them in here a lot, and many are no trouble at all.”

Jay Blissett, councillor for Canvey West, added: “I do feel like a curfew is the only option, along with more parent discipline.

“Maybe if those young people that are causing problems are taken off the streets, the other children who are victims of antisocial behaviour and crime would become more emboldened to report them to the police.”

An Essex Police spokesman encourage business owners and residents to continue to report crime or antisocial behaviour.

We would always encourage business owners, employees, and residents alike to report crime or suspicious behaviour to us. If you call us on 101, or on 999 in an emergency, it helps us to build a picture of what’s going on in the community and to act accordingly.”