Specialist police officers have secured gang injunctions against 16 people - including eight boys - as part of efforts to disrupt and dismantle south Essex gangs.

Essex Police connected a number of violent incidents in Thurrock last October to gang violence.

Those incidents have been dealt with criminally and prosecutions and convictions have been secured in connection with those investigations.

Following ongoing work, the force has obtained 16 gang injunction orders.

These orders apply to eight adults, including:

  • Marcel Zawolski, 22, of Northfleet, Gravesend, in Kent.
  • Ross Ward, 21, of Godman Road, Grays.
  • Hezron Hylton, 22, of Rapier Close, Purfleet.
  • Sean Spark, 28, of London Road, Grays.
  • Ayomide Olarbigbe, 27, of Biggin Lane, Chadwell St Mary.
  • Shodiq Fasai, 19, of High Street, Dover, in Kent
  • Opetunde Tibetan, 18, of Argent Street, Grays
  • Jermaine Munjoma, 20, of The Rundels, Benfleet.

The injunctions also apply to eight boys; three 15-year-old boys, three 16-year-old boys and two 17-year-old boys.

These boys cannot be named due to their ages but police in the area as well as British Transport Police and other Essex Police partners are aware of their identities and the conditions attached to them.

READ MORE >>> Boy, 13, 'kicked in head' and robbed by 'gang of yobs' in south Essex park

The injunctions carry stringent conditions which, if breached, can lead to their arrests.

Among these conditions are:

  • Not to enter Grays High Street, Clarence Road, George Street, Morrisons Car Park, Orsett Road, Station Approach Road, Church Path, Crown Road including car park, The Mall and Grays Train Station unless accompanied by a parent, emergency worker or youth worker or for the purposes of a pre-arranged appointment.
  • Not to enter Seabrooke Rise, Grays Beach Park, Grays Sea Wall and Argent Street
  • Not to enter Lakeside shopping centre
  • Not to enter any railway station including the grounds and car parks of the railway station, unless in possession of or purchases immediately a valid ticket for travel and boards a train within 15 minutes of attending the railway station or alighting from a train having travelled to the station by train with a valid ticket for travel and immediately leaves the train station and car park.
  • Not to knowingly feature in, or make, any video or audio material which is threatening, abusive, insulting, incites violence, promotes criminal activity, shows weapons or makes reference to gang affiliations or tensions
  • Not to be in possession of any knife or bladed article irrespective of length of blade in a public place
  • Being in possession of drug paraphernalia used to sell, consume or manufacture controlled drugs. This does not include items used to smoke tobacco (including lighters, filters and rolling paper)
  • Being in possession of more than £100 in cash at any one time without documentary evidence (including electronic evidence)
  • On social media, knowingly and purposefully being friends with, engaging with or sending a message to any of 25 people specified in the order. This includes Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.
  • Being in possession of more than one mobile phone and one sim card at any time or any mobile phone or sim card that is not registered with the network provider with correct name and address details.
  • Owning, using or having with them any mobile telephone or telephone SIM card the phone number and IMEI number for which has not been disclosed to the Chief Constable of Essex Police or appropriate force for the area in which they reside.
  • Willingly encouraging or assisting any other person to become involved in the supply of drugs or acts of violence. This includes the running of drugs or possessing a mobile phone for drug related activity.

The orders are in place until 11.59pm on December 19 2023 – and will be reviewed before then.

Detective Superintendent Gary Biddle, of our Serious Violence Unit, said: “Our work to dismantle these gangs is absolutely vital, as they are so often linked to senseless violence and the exploitation of vulnerable young people.

“These gangs trade on the false promise of status, money and clothes for the young people they exploit.

“The reality is far less glamorous.

“Those engaged in drug dealing will be surrounded by a world of violence, misery and constant risk.

“These orders aim to not only prevent them from causing harm and nuisance to others, but also to steer them away from dangerous situations where they can come to harm, and to give them the opportunity to reflect on what direction they want their lives to go in.

“But enforcement alone will not solve these complex issues, which is why as a community we must all work together to show gang life doesn’t pay and there are many more positive alternatives.”