Police crack down on anti-social drinking and begging in Southend High Street

Southend Police have been targeting anti-social drinking and begging in the High Street this week, moving on offenders and clearing up the areas.

One of the main areas targeted was the doorway of the old Post Office, which had become a magnet for anti-social drinking & begging.

One of the officers who worked to clear the areas, PC Brewer, said: “We’re keeping the pressure on the anti-social behaviour hot spots in Southend High Street. The Post Office doorway is still clear, clean and tidy following our intervention”.

Southend’s Police District Commander, Chief Insp Scott Cannon, said that his team is “Working hard with Southend Borough Council to tackle the issue of homelessness in Southend.”

Since 2010 there has been a 450% increase in rough sleepers in Southend.

The recent Government report also revealed that Southend now has the 14th highest amount of rough sleepers per local authority area, in the whole country.

Sgt Ian Hughes, Southend’s Community Policing Team Sergeant, has said that they will continue to make sure the shop doorways are clear and also work with partners including HARP to have “positive engagement with the homeless community in Southend”.