A teenage boy has admitted breaching a gang injunction after police patrols in a south Essex town yesterday.

Officers from Essex Police's Operation Raptor team made one arrest and carried out two stop searches in Grays yesterday (October 23) while they patrolled the town.

Police spoke to 70 members of the public, stopped a vehicle, and responded to robbery and shoplifting offences.

Two people suspected of possessing drugs were searched and issued with community resolutions when Class B drugs were discovered.

One person was also arrested on suspicion of breaching a gang injunction.

The 17 year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Southend Youth Court today (October 24) where he admitted breaching the gang injunction.

He has been given a six-month supervision order, a three-month curfew which will be electronically tagged, and ordered to carry out work with the Thurrock Youth Offending Team.

Sergeant Mason Doyle said: “This work is really important to ensure the gang injunctions we’ve worked hard to have put in place are upheld and enforced.

“And speaking to the public about the work we do, listening to their concerns, and building information as a result is essential to ensure we remain on top of any issues that arise.

“Essex is not a place you can come and deal drugs, cause trouble, or commit crime and if you try, you will be dealt with.”