DETECTIVES investigating the deaths of 39 people whose bodies were found in Grays last week are releasing details of two men they want to speak to.

Ronan Hughes, 40, from Armagh in Northern Ireland and his brother Christopher, who’s 34, and also from Armagh, are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and human trafficking.

Ronan Hughes, who also goes by the name Rowan, and Christopher have links to both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper, who is leading the investigation, said: “Finding and speaking to the Hughes brothers is crucial to our investigation.

“At this time we believe they are in Northern Ireland but they also have links to the Irish Republic.

“If you know where they are or have any information about their whereabouts I need you to call my team.

“This is a case where 39 men and women have tragically died and support from the community is going to be vital to help bring those responsible to justice.

“You may think the piece of information might be insignificant but even the smallest detail could be vital so please contact my officers on 101 or online at: https://mipp.police.uk.

“I appreciate you may not want to speak to the police so you can also contact Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

The post Two men wanted over deaths of 39 people after bodies discovered in lorry appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A MAN has been charged after two people were injured in Orsett.

The man and woman were struck by a car in High Road shortly before 4pm on Saturday 26 October.

They were taken to hospital with cuts and bruising.

JJ Margetts, 32, of Whitmore Avenue, Grays, was charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, attempted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, criminal damage and driving without insurance.

Margetts appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Monday 28 October, and was remanded in custody to appear
at Basildon Crown Court on Monday 25 November.

The post Man charged after two struck by car in Orsett appeared first on Your Thurrock.

POLICE have launched a probe following what appears to be a random attack on a cyclist in South Ockendon.

Martin Kerin, 67, was was cycling on Stifford Road at 3.15am on Tuesday, 29 October when he was approached by a white car. Someone within the car then sprayed an unknown substance in his face.

Fortunately the substance proved not to be harmful.

Mr Kerin’s wife Elaine took to social media to try and find out more information about the attack.

She says: “At 3.20am this morning my 68-year-old husband was attacked in South Ockendon along Stifford Road. He was riding his bike to work when a car pulled up and sprayed a thick white substance in his face. This happened by the Target Car supermarket (the former caravan storage site) along Stifford Road. The thugs sped off, turned round and drove past my husband, turned around and did it again before speeding off in the direction of Daiglen Drive.

“The second time it happened my husband took cover in the Industrial park, waited a while before he considered it to be safe and carried on his journey to work.

“I’m hoping anyone from the Ockendon area, particularly residents along Stifford Road and people who live off the turn of Stifford Road towards Foyle Drive, and also Daiglen Drive near the junction with Stifford Road, may have CCTV or a car with a camera and thy could check their footage. My husband thinks it was a white car but his vision wasn’t very clear.

“We believe the substance was foam or powder that is used by the fire brigade to fight electrical fires, or something similar.

“I hope we can catch these thugs who think its ok to attack a 68-year-old man on his way to work.

“I also want them caught before they decide to throw something stronger over another random person. Next time it may be acid, which will scar some innocent person for life. My husband was lucky in this case. The next person might not be.”

A spokesperson for Essex police confirmed: “We are investigating after reports of a cyclist being assaulted in South Ockendon.

The post Investigation after cyclist attacked with substance in South Ockendon appeared first on Your Thurrock.

By Local Democracy Reporter
Steve Shaw

NEW police officers funded by Thurrock Council are to begin working in the borough by January 2020, a councillor has confirmed.

Councillor James Halden has promised the new police officers funded using £1million of council money will begin walking the beat in Purfleet and Tilbury by January 2020.

His assurances came after Labour leader Councillor Jane Pothecary questioned at a full council meeting last week why it had been almost a year since the council made the funding promise with little results.

She said: “The council’s funding of these officers was very much trumpeted, there were lots of press releases, there were lots of photos of council leader Councillor Rob Gledhill in the high street surrounded by people in uniforms – we had all of that and residents felt it was a very firm promise and I thought it was a firm promise, yet they are not there yet.”

Mr Halden responded: “If you want a straight answer let me give you one. We’ve got brand new town centre police teams in Grays, in Ockendon, in Stanford and now thanks to the investment from Thurrock Council there will be brand new dedicated officers for Purfleet and Tilbury in January next year.

“There will be 3,200 officers in total in Essex by 2020.”

Hitting back at claims that it had take too long to get the officers on the streets, Mr Halden insisted it was due to the length of time they have been in training.

“It did take a little bit of time,” he continued.

“Obviously we wanted to invest more in policing and of course when you put police officers on the street you do have to train them. So yes, it does take a little bit of time to roll them out.”

He added that the council’s strong financial position means that they have the “clout to wield some influence with the police”.

The council announced the £1million investment in January, with the funds being spent over a three-year period. It is expected to fund eight new officers who will work from the council offices.

They will also be in addition to the 15 new officers Essex Police committed to sending to Thurrock as part of the increase in council tax in 2018-19.

Following the announcement the plan was criticised by members of Labour who accused the Conservative party of cutting police across the country and later shifting the cost of replenishing the numbers onto taxpayers.

A council report published at the beginning of October revealed that offences involving violence against a person have almost doubled in a year. While other crimes, including sexual offences, robbery with violence, theft and criminal damage are also up.

Labour Councillor John Kent placed the blame for these increases on the “lack of investment in proper policing”.

But Essex Police have said “Thurrock and Essex remain safe places to live and work” and stressed that in the 12 months to the end of March 2019, the number of violence with injury offences per 1,000 people was lower in Thurrock than the national average.

The post Where are Thurrock’s new police officers? asks councillor appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A dispersal order will be in place in Chafford Hundred this Halloween.

GIVEN anti-social and dangerous behaviour during this period of time in recent years, we will be putting the order in place from 6pm on Thursday 31 October and it will end at 8am on Friday 1 November.

The order will give officers and PCSOs the power to move on groups or individuals who are behaving in an anti-social manner. If they return to the area within 24 hours, they can be arrested.

The order covers the whole of the Chafford Hundred housing estate. From the north, will encompass The Arterial Road North Stifford from The Treacle Mine roundabout to the boundary of the Lake at the Lakeside Shopping Centre.

It will then run along the bank of the Lake across to the B186 junction with West Thurrock Way to the west.
For the south, it will then run the length of West Thurrock Way to the junction of London Road.

To the east, it will then run the length of London Road up to the junction of Devonshire Road Chafford. This coverage will extend to the entirety of Devonshire Road, up to the roundabout at Hogg Lane. It will then continue from Hogg Lane to the Treacle Mine roundabout, meeting the north boundary.

Inspector Paul Ballard, of Thurrock’s Community Policing Team, said: “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a rise in anti-social behaviour over Halloween. We won’t let large groups of troublemakers intimidate our local community and our officers will be enforcing this dispersal order to ensure that people in Chafford Hundred have a safe and non-disruptive Halloween.”

The post A dispersal order will be in place in Chafford Hundred this Halloween. appeared first on Your Thurrock.

JUST over a week on from the tragic incident in Grays, emergency services workers and public servants from across the county have come together to observe a minute’s silence.

This took place at 11am today (Friday 1 November) as a mark of respect for the 39 people who were sadly found dead in a container in the Waterglades Industrial Park on Wednesday 23 October.

Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington said: “Last week our county was shaken by this harrowing event. Our thoughts continue to be with all those who have lost their lives, and also with their loved ones.

“To the families of those who died, I promise that we will do everything in our power to bring justice to all those who were responsible for the horrific journey that brought your loved ones to our shores.”

He also paid tribute to everyone who either responded to the tragedy in the first few days, or who is currently working on the ongoing investigation.
Chief Constable Harrington added: “So many dedicated men and women are doing an amazing job in the most horrific of circumstances. Some of our officers went out on duty that night, not knowing what they would have to experience. They are ordinary people doing an extraordinary job, and I am incredibly proud of them.”

We continue to search for Ronan Hughes and Christopher Hughes in connection with our ongoing investigation.

The brothers, aged 40 and 34 respectively, are both from Armagh in Northern Ireland and also have links to the Irish Republic.

Maurice Robinson, 25, of Laurel Drive, Craigavon, Northern Ireland, has been charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, and money laundering and is next due to appear at the Old Bailey on 25 November.

Three other people arrested – a 38 year-old man, a 38 year-old woman, and a 46 year-old man – have all been released on bail until November.

Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to call our Major Crime Team on 101 or you can call Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or submit information through their website.

If you have any concerns about a friend or loved one, who you believe may be a victim of the Grays tragedy, please call our dedicated hotline on 0800 056 0944 if you are inside the UK. If you are dialling internationally please call 0044 207 158 0010.

The post Emergency services observe minutes silence for 39 found dead in Grays appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A EUROPEAN Arrest Warrant has been executed in Dublin today, Friday 1 November, in connection with the Essex Police investigation in to the deaths of 39 people who were found in a lorry trailer in Grays last week.

Eamon Harrison, 23, of Mayobridge, Northern Ireland, is charged with 39 offences of manslaughter, as well as human trafficking and immigration offences.

He has appeared before the High Court, Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin, and remanded in custody.

Essex Police has started extradition proceedings to bring him to the UK.

The post Grays lorry deaths: European Arrest Warrant executed in Dublin appeared first on Your Thurrock.

ESSEX Police is no longer looking for Talliq Mwalim, who was wanted on suspicion of breaching a gang injunction.

The 19-year-old, of Junction Road, Gillingham, was arrested on Tuesday 22 October.

Mwalim is next due to appear at Chelmsford County Court on Tuesday 12 November.

An appeal for information to find Talliq Mwalim was issued on Tuesday 15 October. This should now be removed from websites and social media.

The post Teenager arrested over gang injunction appeared first on Your Thurrock.

STATEMENT FROM ASSISTANT CHIEF CONSTABLE TIM SMITH

OFFICER in overall charge of the investigation into the deaths of 39 men and women discovered at Grays, Essex on 23 October 2019

“Essex Police is continuing to work closely with HM Senior Coroner and the National Crime Agency to progress the investigation and help identify the victims. At this time, we believe the victims are Vietnamese nationals, and we are in contact with the Vietnamese Government. We are in direct contact with a number of families in Vietnam and the UK, and we believe we have identified families for some of the victims whose journey ended in tragedy on our shores.

The confirmatory evidence needed to formally present cases to HM Senior Coroner for her consideration has not yet been obtained. This evidence is being gathered across a number of jurisdictions worldwide. As a result, we cannot at this time announce the identity of any of the victims. We will continue to co-operate closely with the Vietnamese Government, and others, to identify the victims and offer our support to all those affected by this tragedy. From the outset, our thoughts have been and remain with those who have lost loved ones in this tragic incident.

I would like to continue to appeal to anyone who has information that may assist us in our process to identify the victims to please contact Essex Police.
Details of how you can pass information can be found at mipp.police.uk where there are also details on how to contact us translated in to Vietnamese.
We have specially trained people, supported by Vietnamese interpreters, answering our dedicated hotline between 9am to midnight, seven days a week on 0800 056 0944 if you live in the UK and 0044 207 158 0010 if you’re dialling internationally.
Please come forward and help us to provide answers to the 39 people’s families.”

The post Grays lorry deaths: Police make statement on identity of 39 men and women appeared first on Your Thurrock.

Statement from Essex Police

THANK you to residents for supporting our officers who were in Chafford Hundred on Thursday 31 October as part of a dispersal order.

Officers involved in the operation were from our local policing teams with support from our volunteer Special Constables, British Transport Police colleagues and active citizens.

Officers attended a number of reports of anti-social behaviour and twenty people were directed to leave the dispersal area.

An 18 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with Intent to supply class A drugs, and drug driving. He was released under investigation on Friday 1 November.

The post Police thank residents after dispersal order imposed in Chafford Hundred appeared first on Your Thurrock.

A GANG member who breached an injunction has been sentenced to 129 days in a young offender institution.

Sahin Korta-Haupt is a member of the so-called C17 gang in Thurrock, who were made subject of a gang injunction in September 2018.

The court order bans them from large parts of Thurrock and restricts certain behaviour.

But the 19-year-old, formerly of Junction Road, Gillingham, breached four of the conditions.

He appeared in a drill music video with violent lyrics, which was posted on YouTube on June 30 this year.

This breached the injunction, which prevents him from featuring in any audio or video online that is threatening, abusive, insulting, incites violence, promotes criminal activity, shows weapons or makes reference to gang affiliations and the C17.

He also breached a condition banning him from congregating in a public place in a group of two or more where the group was behaving in a way likely to make a person feel intimidated or afraid for their safety.

Korta-Haupt also wore a hooded top and associated with another gang member in a public place.

He was arrested on Friday 11 October and sentenced at Chelmsford County Court on Monday 28 October.

He was also ordered to pay £300 costs.

PC Jonathan Kemp, of the Operation Raptor team, said: “We will continue to enforce the injunction, which we worked with the support of our partners to secure.

“We will do everything we can to prevent the further exploitation of young people who have been lured into the gang lifestyle with misleading promises of a glamorous lifestyle.

“Violent drill videos only serve to fuel those misleading impressions of gang life.

“The reality is that young people – especially those who are vulnerable – will be at risk of violence, crime and exploitation.”

Anyone with information about drug dealing or gang activity in their area is urged to call 101 (or 999 in an emergency).

Alternatively, contact the Crimestoppers charity 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org

The post Thurrock gang member jailed for breaching injunction appeared first on Your Thurrock.

By Local Democracy Reporter
Steve Shaw

IT is estimated that almost 3,000 people in Thurrock have been victims of sexual violence and abuse over the past 12 months, a new report has revealed.

Thurrock Council has undertaken an extensive study of how prevalent sexual violence is within the borough and a report notes that there have been an estimated 2,718 victims in the past 12 months.

The council further predicts that there is a total of 12,101 residents who have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lifetime – the equivalent of almost 8 per cent of the population.

The majority of these victims are considered to be unknown to support services due in part to a reluctance to report the crime. In 2018, just 316 victims reported sexual offences.

The report notes: “This is still much lower than the 2,718 victims who are estimated to have experienced sexual violence and abuse in the last 12 months.”

Other problems identified is the fractured way in which support services operate, leaving many people – often suffering with poor mental health as a result of trauma – unwilling to engage with them. It is hoped that the report will lead to a major overhaul of services, with victims being given better access to counselling and mental health support.

Councillor Victoria Holloway, who chairs the council’s health overview and scrutiny committee, said the report was the result of almost a year of research.

“Before this there wasn’t a whole picture of sexual violence in the borough,” said Ms Holloway.

“The Clinical Commissioning Groups had some data, police had some other bit. This was about bringing it together and listening to people, asking what do they want to see from services? This is not just a clinician’s report.”

How those services will be streamlined will be the topic of a health overview and scrutiny committee held next week, where health professionals will come together to discuss the research.

Sheila Coates, director of South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC) said: “This report is the first report of this kind to be published in Thurrock recognising the often lifelong impact and trauma of sexual crime.

“SERICC would like to thank Thurrock Public Health for recognising that this work had to be undertaken due to the increasing numbers of victims and survivors coming forward and Thurrock HealthWatch for undertaking an independent survey capturing the voices of victims and survivors.

“In the last year the three Essex Rape Crisis Centres who run the Essex wide service as SYNERGY Essex, responded to more than 8,000 victims, supporting individuals and their families, many of whom are experiencing mental health difficulties linked to trauma and are in need of information about the criminal justice system.

“With high profile cases and media continuing to ‘break the silence’ of sexual abuse we know that there are hundreds of victims and survivors yet to reach out for support.”

The report will be discussed in detail during a health overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday, November 7.

The post Almost 3,000 Thurrock residents have been victims of sexual violence in a single year appeared first on Your Thurrock.

Eight suspects have been held in Vietnam after 39 people were found dead in a lorry in Grays.

THE arrests came as a team of Vietnamese officials arrived in Britain to help formally identify the 31 men and eight women.

The suspects are being held in relation to people smuggling offences, the director of police in the Nghe An province in north-central Vietnam said.

Two people were arrested in the Ha Tinh province of Vietnam last week.

The victims were discovered in a refrigerated lorry trailer on an industrial estate in Grays on 23 October.

On Friday, Essex Police said all 39 people were believed to be Vietnamese.

The force initially said it believed they were Chinese.

A service was held for the victims in east London on Saturday evening

Essex Police said it was now in “direct contact with a number of families in Vietnam and the UK” and the Vietnamese Government.

A spokeswoman for the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the incident a “serious humanitarian tragedy”.

Post-mortem examinations are being carried out on the victims to establish the cause of their deaths.

More than 100 people attended a service for the victims at the Church of the Holy Name and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in east London on Saturday evening.
Essex lorry deaths should be ‘wake-up call’

The driver of the lorry, Maurice Robinson, from Northern Ireland, appeared in court last week charged with a string of offences, including 39 counts of manslaughter.

Extradition proceedings have also begun against 22-year-old Eamonn Harrison, who was arrested in Dublin on a European Arrest Warrant.
Police are also seeking two brothers from Northern Ireland, Ronan and Christopher Hughes, who are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and people trafficking.

The post Eight suspects have been held in Vietnam after 39 people were found dead in a lorry in Grays appeared first on Your Thurrock.

Do you recognise anyone in these CCTV images?

DETECTIVES investigating a frightening incident at Grays station, where a member of railway staff was assaulted and then threatened with serious violence, are looking to identify them in connection.

At approximately 7.40pm on 8 September, a woman had an altercation with another customer at Grays station. A member of rail staff intervened, however he was also assaulted by the unknown woman.

The unknown woman was with a man, they both leave the station together. However, at 10.40pm the same man returned to the station, with two other men.

The member of rail staff was in the safety of the ticket office, where the three men begin to threaten him with violence. They took concerted efforts to smash the ticket window and attempt to kick the door open.

Officers believe the four people shown in this CCTV image may have information which could help them investigate.

DC Matthew Hogg from British Transport Police, said: “This was a frightening experience for the member of rail staff, who had only attempted to intervene in an earlier altercation at the station.

“We are actively looking to trace those responsible for this incredible violence incident. I would urge anyone with information to get in touch as soon as possible.”

You can contact BTP by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 531 of 08/09/2019. Or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The post Investigation after staff assaulted at Grays Railway Station appeared first on Your Thurrock.

ESSEX Police is continuing to progress the complex investigation in to the circumstances which led to 39 people being found dead in a lorry in Grays.

They are working with national and international partners to get answers for the friends and family of those who died and bring all those responsible to justice.

This week they welcomed a delegation of Vietnamese Police and officials who met with officers involved in the investigation. The identities of the victims remain unconfirmed, however they have worked closely with Vietnamese Police over the last two days and anticipate presenting cases to the Identification Commission which is overseen by Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Essex Caroline Beasley-Murray.

It’s an important process which is the culmination of hours of meticulous work by a dedicated team to provide evidence to be presented at the commission.

Their priority continues to be to the thorough and meticulous investigation into the criminality that resulted in the death of the victims, to preserve the dignity of those who have died and to support their friends and family.

The post Vietnamese Police visits Grays over 39 deaths appeared first on Your Thurrock.

THE director of a law firm has been fined £900 after refusing to reveal the identity of a driver in a company car that was believed to be speeding.

John Cayton, 61, of Woodland Way in Tadworth, Surrey, was fined at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 1 November.

It followed reports of a Black Ford Kuga travelling on the Dartford Crossing towards Thurrock at speed on 4 January this year.

In addition, Cayton had six points placed on his licence and was ordered to pay a three-figure sum in other costs.
Investigating officer, PC Daniel Cordwell, said: “We will not allow individuals to hide behind the mask of their company – it’s your responsibility to ensure that you abide by the law at all times, regardless of your profession or your position within that company.

“I hope that this will serve as a clear message to other business-owners about their responsibilities. You will not be exempt in a court of law if you fail to provide the information we need, no matter how small you think the offence is.”

The post Solicitor fined after failing to ID driver in Thurrock appeared first on Your Thurrock.

ESSEX Police have been working with Vietnamese Police officers to present cases to Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Essex to verify the identities of the 39 people discovered at Grays in Essex on Wednesday 23 October.

A series of files have been brought before an Identification Commission, and HM Senior Coroner Mrs Caroline Beasley-Murray has now formally identified all of the victims, and the families of those victims have been notified.

HM Senior Coroner, Mrs Caroline Beasley-Murray said:

“May I take this opportunity to offer my deepest condolences to the victims’ families.”

The senior officer in charge of the enquiry, Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith said:

“This is an important step in the investigation and enables us to work with our Vietnamese Police colleagues to support the families of those victims. It is only right that we provide an opportunity for family members to take in the news confirming the death of their loved ones before releasing any further information. Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those whose tragic journey ended on our shores.”

Essex Police continues to lead the investigation, working with the National Crime Agency and with European Law Enforcement colleagues.

The post Essex Police identify all 39 people found dead in Grays appeared first on Your Thurrock.

ESSEX Police are appealing for witnesses after two homes were burgled.

An unknown vehicle containing four people arrived in Victoria Road, at the junction of Karen Close, at about 5am on Friday 1 November.

Two people got out and broke into a home in Karen Close, stole the keys to a blue Ford Focus then drove the Focus away.

Shortly afterwards, one of the suspects in the Focus broke into the porch of a home in Victoria Road, but ran off after being disturbed by the resident.

He was driven away in the Focus, which was later found in London.

We want to speak to drivers who were in the area at the time and have dash cam footage.

We particularly want to speak to the drivers of two cars who were forced to stop by the Focus, who was stationary in the road waiting for one of the males to return to the vehicle

Contact Grays CID on 101 quoting reference 42/173893/19.

The post Appeal after two homes burgled in Stanford-le-Hope appeared first on Your Thurrock.

ONE of Essex’s senior detectives has won a major national award and named the best in the country by his peers.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, was named Senior Investigating Officer of the Year at the National Homicide Working Group Conference.

DCI Pasmore has 13 years’ experience leading major investigations and managing teams of detectives on some of our most high profile murder cases.

He said: “It’s very humbling. To be nominated in the first place is one thing but then to win such prestigious award nationally is difficult to get your head around really.

“I knew I wanted to be an SIO when I had worked in a tactical team where we were doing plain clothes and undercover work and really getting under the skin of the bad guys.

“For me the most gratifying part is getting justice for victims and their families. It never ceases to astonish me the dignity of the people I meet who are going through the most unimaginable of times.

“I tell them that, as a whole team, we’re going to put our arm around you, we’re going to take you through this journey as best we can and be there every step of the way.

“And then the most gratifying thing is sitting in that court room with those families and hearing that guilty verdict.

“Of course when it doesn’t go your way it’s a massive disappointment and that hurts because you feel you’ve let the family down but you try and pick yourself up because you’ve done the best job you can.”

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith, head of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “DCI Martin Pasmore is an absolute credit to Essex Police and the wider serious crime directorate and is a complete role model.

“He is an excellent detective who works tirelessly to get justice for victims and their families but perhaps his most important quality is the compassion, empathy and humanity with which he does this.

“He always tries to do what’s best for families and they are at the heart of every decision he makes.

“This national recognition for his dedication, professionalism, and detective work is thoroughly deserved.

“He’s an inspiration for other officers and I’m proud to say he’s part of the force.”

The post Essex detective wins national award appeared first on Your Thurrock.

ESSEX Police have released details of the 39 people whose bodies were found in a container shipped from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Essex in the UK.

Formal identification has been established via an Identification Commission, overseen by Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner for Essex, Mrs Caroline Beasley-Murray.

The senior officer in overall charge of the enquiry Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith said:

“This was an incredibly important process and our team has been working hard to bring answers to worried families who fear their loved one may be among those whose tragic journey ended on our shores.

“Our priority has been to identify the victims, to preserve the dignity of those who have died and to support the victims’ friends and families.

“It remained of paramount importance to us to ensure that an individual’s next of kin were informed, and that they were given some time to absorb this tragic news before we publicly confirmed their loved one’s identity.

“We have worked closely with the National Crime Agency, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Vietnamese Authorities to identify and locate their families.

Her Majesty’s Senior Coroner, Mrs Caroline Beasley-Murray said:

“May I take this opportunity to offer my deepest condolences to the victims’ families. My thoughts are with them at this unimaginably difficult time.”

We can confirm having liaised with the Vietnamese authorities that the people who died were:

Pham Thi Tra My 26-year-old woman from Ha Tinh
Nguyen Dinh Lurong 20-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Nguyen Huy Phong 35-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Vo Nhan Du 19-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Tran Manh Hung 37-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Tran Khanh Tho 18-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Vo Van Linh 25-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Nguyen Van Nhan 33-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Bui Phan Thang 37-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Nguyen Huy Hung 15-year-old boy from Ha Tinh
Tran Thi Tho 21-year-old woman from Nghe An
Bui Thi Nhung 19-year-old woman from Nghe An
Vo Ngoc Nam 28-year-old man from Nghe An
Nguyen Dinh Tu 26-year-old man from Nghe An
Le Van Ha 30-year-old man from Nghe An
Tran Thi Ngoc 19-year-old woman from Nghe An
Nguyen Van Hung 33-year-old man from Nghe An
Hoang Van Tiep 18-year-old man from Nghe An
Cao Tien Dung 37-year-old man from Nghe An
Cao Huy Thanh 33-year-old man from Nghe An
Tran Thi Mai Nhung 18-year-old woman from Nghe An
Nguyen Minh Quang 20-year-old man from Nghe An
Le Trong Thanh 44-year-old man from Dien Chau
Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh 28-year-old woman from Nghe An
Hoang Van Hoi 24-year-old man from Nghe An
Nguyen Tho Tuan 25-year-old man from Nghe An
Dang Huu Tuyen 22-year-old man from Nghe An
Nguyen Trong Thai 26-year-old man from Nghe An
Nguyen Van Hiep 24-year-old man from Nghe An
Nguyen Thi Van 35-year-old woman from Nghe An
Tran Hai Loc 35-year-old man from Nghe An
Duong Minh Tuan 27-year-old man from Quang Binh
Nguyen Ngoc Ha 32-year-old man from Quang Binh
Nguyen Tien Dung 33-year-old man from Quang, Binh
Phan Thi Thanh 41-year-old woman from Hai Phong
Nguyen Ba Vu Hung 34-year-old man from Thua Tien Hue
Dinh Dinh Thai Quyen 18-year-old man from Hai Phong
Tran Ngoc Hieu 17-year-old boy from Hai Duong
Dinh Dinh Binh 15-year-old boy from Hai Phong

Consultation is underway with regard to the repatriation of those who have died, with the Vietnamese and UK governments working together to achieve this.

The Identification Commission

The Identification Commission’s purpose is to establish whether there is sufficient evidence to confirm someone’s identity, and is made up of a series of processes which include but are not limited to fingerprints, DNA, medical or dentistry documentation and distinctive markings such as tattoos and scars.

It is for HM Senior Coroner to set the criteria which must be met before they are satisfied that a formal identification can be made.
Essex Police are aware that there have been extensive media briefings in Vietnam and this has understandably been of significant interest.

The Government, the National Crime Agency, foreign police forces and Essex Police have worked with HM Senior Coroner to make sure that every detail has been verified in order to maintain the dignity of those who have died and to show respect for their families and friends.

The post Essex Police release details of 39 people whose bodies found in a container in Grays appeared first on Your Thurrock.