Multiple police units and paramedics rushed to Southend city centre this morning following a violent incident that left eyewitnesses shocked and concerned for the safety of the area.
The incident occurred at the corner of Chichester Road and Warrior Square, where a man was reportedly attacked. Witnesses described seeing him lying on the ground receiving medical attention, with “blood all over the pavement.”
Emergency services swiftly responded, partially blocking Chichester Road while they dealt with the situation.
Essex Police confirmed that they were called to disturbances in both Sutton Road and Chichester Road at approximately 9:15am.
A spokesperson for the force said: “Officers responded quickly to reports of disturbances in Southend at around 9:15am today. We were called to incidents in Sutton Road and Chichester Road. A man in his 20s was arrested at the scene on suspicion of robbery and assault. Nobody was seriously injured. Our enquiries continue. If you have any information or dashcam footage, please contact us and quote incident number 0250 of 26 October 2022.”
The scene was tense as emergency responders worked to assess the situation, with many locals stopping to watch events unfold. Some expressed their concerns about the state of crime in Southend, highlighting a growing unease over safety in the city centre.
Local resident Elizabeth Vella commented: “Southend has always been a dangerous dump. Nothing has changed. Drug capital of Essex.”
Kim Regan, who witnessed the aftermath, said: “I saw it this morning, there was a lot of blood and blood-covered clothing. I’m sad to say it was the local drug users involved. Not nice to see, but these things do happen everywhere.”
Another long-term Southend resident, Crystal Duke, expressed her fears: “It sounds serious, I hope the person recovers well. I have lived here all my life, I’m now 34. This town is changing for the worse. It’s frightening that it’s now becoming a daily occurrence to see serious violent attacks.”
Essex Police are urging anyone with information or relevant dashcam footage to come forward. Reports can be submitted via their website or through their online Live Chat service, which operates Monday to Friday between 10am and 9pm.
As investigations continue, today’s events have once again sparked debate about crime levels in Southend and the safety of residents in the city centre.