A MEETING will take place between a Canvey councillor and Essex’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to discuss crime which has been rife on the island in recent weeks.

Yesterday, the Echo reported how a thug stole thousands of pounds from a woman after following her from the NatWest bank, in Foksville Road, and mugging her in her own car.

While just last week two people were hospitalised after two stabbings within the space of six hours of each other.

There has also been numerous instances of antisocial behaviour on the island in recent weeks.

Now councillor Ray Howard is calling for a meeting with Essex Police to discuss crime prevention on the island.

He said: “I promise you this, I will get on to Roger Hirst first thing, and I will speak to him either personally on the phone, or to his personnel, and look to arrange a meeting.

“Sadly, we are in a society were there are a small minority who believe they are above the law and these people must be named and shamed.

“Although you have rightly identified these areas of concern, I am of the opinion, as the longest serving councillor in Castle Point, we are talking about a small minority who commit these terrible acts, and they truly are terrible.

“It is concerning that as much as the police have all this modern technology to identify and catch criminals, a lot seem to be one step ahead of the police.

“But despite this concerning spate of crime, I am a firm believer that Canvey is a very close-knit community.

“They support each other, and they do not deserve to be associated with these crimes.”

On November 13, at about 4.10pm, a man in his twenties was stabbed in the leg after he was set upon by two men in Poplar Road, and at 9.56pm in Benderloch, a man was stabbed in the stomach and leg after he was chased down an alleyway by two men.

The outbreak of antisocial behaviour over the last few months, culminated in a dispersal order being put in place on the island and more than 50 youths moved on, while one youngster were also accused of making anti-Semitic comments outside the Jewish centre on Canvey.