Two gang members from Dagenham and Romford are among nine to be banned from making drill rap videos, wearing hoodies and riding bikes in a bid to crack down on crime.

Ayomide Olarbigbe, 22, of Willow Street, Romford, and the 17-year-old from Dagenham, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were handed injunctions which also bans them from entering parts of Grays as well as Chafford Hundred station, intu Lakeside shopping centre and the nearby Lakeside retail park.

The injunctions were issued by Chelmsford County Court and Youth Court over the course of several months, but the full details of them can only be reported now after the final injunction was granted last week.

The courts were told how the C17 gang had been dealing drugs in the Essex town, where they enticed young children into their gang before getting them to carry drugs, knives or cash from deals.

They also used them to look out for police while others were carrying out deals.

The courts also heard how gang members targeted vulnerable drug users, taking over or ‘cuckooing’ their homes to deal from.

Chief Supt Andrew Mariner said: “The C17 gang have not just been selling drugs on our streets, they have been targeting young people and getting them involved in gang life, preying on the vulnerable, exploiting young girls and been responsible for unprecedented levels of serious violence, crime and disorder, including attacks involving acid, stabbings and violent robberies.

“They have left some businesses and members of our community afraid to go about their daily business.”

The other gang mebers subject to the injunction are all from Grays. Three boys, two aged 17 and one aged 15, and a 25-year-old man, have all contested the interim orders placed on them and further hearings will take place in the coming weeks.

As part of the injunction, they must provide Essex Police with their social media names, mobile phone numbers and engage with anti-gang organisations.

They are banned from carrying more than £100 in cash at any one time without proof of where it came from and from associating with a list of named people either in a public place or on social media.