A weekend-long dispersal order was introduced across Southend city centre, covering the entire weekend, following a series of anti-social behaviour incidents and violent attacks in recent days.
The latest order came into force at 1pm on Saturday and will remain in place until 1am on Monday morning, giving police extended powers to deal with ongoing disorder.
The restrictions cover a wide area of central Southend, including Marine Parade, the High Street, Western Esplanade, Victoria and Royals Shopping Centre, and both Southend Central and Southend Victoria train stations.
Essex Police say the move is part of their “ongoing commitment to keep the public safe and prevent anti-social behaviour”, and follows a similar dispersal order that was enforced on Friday night.
Officers remain highly visible across the city centre, carrying out patrols aimed at preventing further incidents and enforcing the order.
Inspector Penny McQuade said:
“Over the course of this week we have seen large numbers of young people coming to Southend in the evening and committing anti-social behaviour.
“It is not behaviour we will tolerate and if you come to our city centre or seafront to cause trouble and disturb other people visiting Southend then we will use this order to direct people to leave the area or face arrest.
“Two people were arrested last night in connection with theft, one of these was also further arrested for assault.”
The weekend-long dispersal order follows a multiple incidents across Southend city centre over the past week.
Essex Police say officers were called to reports of “people fighting” in Chichester Road at around 2am. The disturbance quickly escalated into serious violence, with armed officers deployed to the scene.
When police arrived, they found a man who had been both stabbed and hit by a car. He was taken to hospital with what officers described as “potentially life-changing” injuries.
Following the attack, two suspects fled the scene in a vehicle, triggering a major police response. A police helicopter was deployed above Southend to assist with the search.
With support from Southend City Council CCTV operators, officers were able to identify the vehicle involved, which was later located at Southend Hospital.
A second vehicle believed to be connected to the incident was then stopped by police on the M25 in Hertfordshire.
Leon Makumbi, 29, of Burford Way, Hitchin, has now been charged with GBH with intent and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
A teenage boy was rushed to hospital after a serious assault in Southend High Street.
Emergency services were called shortly after 6.30pm to reports of an attack outside the Halifax bank, where a police cordon was quickly put in place.
The boy suffered injuries to his arm caused by an “unknown object” and was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.
An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
A dispersal order was enforced from 7.20pm on Friday until 2am on Saturday, after a third consecutive evening of anti-social behaviour linked to groups travelling into Southend.
The order covered areas including Pier Hill, Marine Parade, the High Street, Western Esplanade, and both main train stations.
Inspector Kevin Oxlade said at the time:
“Over the last three evenings we have seen large numbers of young people coming to Southend and committing anti-social behaviour.
“We will not tolerate people coming to our city centre or seafront to cause trouble and disturb other people visiting Southend to enjoy the vibrant night-time economy. This order allows officers to direct people suspected of being involved to leave the area or face arrest.”
A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm following an altercation in the city centre on the evening of 10th April. Another man was taken to hospital with an injury.
Police set up a cordon outside the Ask Italian restaurant on London Road, which was still in place on 11 April while officers investigated.
However, police have said the incident is not connected to the dispersal order.
Police say many of the recent incidents have been linked to large groups of youths gathering in the city centre and seafront, particularly in the evenings.
The dispersal order gives officers the power to direct individuals to leave the area, with failure to comply potentially leading to arrest.
Officers are expected to maintain a strong presence across Southend to deter further disruption and reassure residents and visitors.
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