BOROUGH Community Protection Officers are now fighting anti-social behaviour by bike, thanks to funding from Thurrock Community Safety Partnership.

The partnership bought the bikes to give the Community Protection Team more flexibility for their patrols.

Alongside incidents of anti-social behaviour, the team deals with everything from fly-tipping to abandoned vehicles and other environmental crimes, including littering which carries a fixed penalty fine of £75 or prosecution.

Thurrock Council portfolio holder for crime and disorder, Cllr Gerard Rice, said: “The Community Protection Team does a fantastic job dealing with anti-social behaviour and environmental crime and these bikes will be a useful weapon in their armoury.

“Cycling around the borough will also serve as a hi-visibility reminder to residents this kind of behaviour including littering and fly-tipping will not be tolerated and will be punished.”