Southend reflects two weeks after seafront violence saw nine charged
Essex Police "categorically reject" parts of Southend are "no-go zone"
More than two weeks on from violence in Southend that saw nine people charged, we asked local people how safe they feel.
It's after Essex Police say they "categorically reject" the idea that any part of Southend is a "no-go zone", amid criticism of crime levels in the seaside town.
"I don't feel as safe as I used to - the high street mainly. I wouldn't walk there on my own, even during the day because I don't feel safe," said one local woman.
"I used to come to the beach all the time with my friends. There's a bit down the beach that's still safe and my friend's got a beach hut - we go down there," says another local woman, Tanya.
"But this area near our house I don't come to anymore," she says.
Tanya's mum, Sian, disagrees:
"I think it's absolutely fine, I'm comfortable. I know we have problems but no more than any other city."
Another woman says locals don't go down to the seafront anymore:
"The only people that come down are the people that don't live around here. We don't come down here."
"I don't want to walk around in fear of getting stabbed," she says.
One Scout leader we speak to dismisses concerns over safety:
"We're a local Scout group - do you think we'd have brought 30 kids down here if we thought it wasn't safe?"
But another local man is less positive.
"I've seen a considerable drop in tourists since all the violence happened," he says.
"I don't want to stay in the evenings anymore because that's when it really steps up a gear."
Other local people think concerns over violence have been exaggerated:
"It's not as bad as it's made out to be. I also think a lot of seaside towns are depicted quite badly.
"You take it with a pinch of salt. It is safe; there's always been a huge police presence on the seafront," they say.