Eight arrests after Southend disorder
Seven weapons have also been seized
Last updated 31st Jul 2024
Officers have now arrested eight people in total and seized seven weapons after a number of incidents of disorder and violence in Southend last night.
Two people were taken to hospital (they have also been arrested) and their injuries are not life-threatening or life-changing.
One of them has since been discharged and is now in custody.
Powers allowing officers to stop and search members of the public, their possessions and their vehicles for weapons remain in place until 8pm today, Wednesday 31 July.
Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin said:
“We will not excuse this dangerous behaviour on our streets, at the expense of the public and our officers.
“These arrests were made quickly to keep the public safe, and we have multiple lines of enquiry to identify more suspects and bring them to justice.
“I’d like to reassure the wider public that these were targeted attacks involving just a small fraction of the visitors to Southend yesterday.
“I’d also like to thank our partners in the British Transport Police and the security teams working in Southend for their support in dispersion the crowds and ensuring the public left the area covered by our dispersal order.
“The stop and search powers in place have already taken weapons off the streets of Southend and we will not hesitate to stop anyone we believe is carrying a weapon. If you carry a knife in Essex you will not get away with it.
“Our officers will be in the city and on the seafront again today, so please speak to one of our officers if you have any information about last night’s disorder.”
In one specific incident at about 7.40pm on Tuesday 30 July, an assault with an offensive weapon was seen by security staff and members of the public in Marine Parade, Southend.
One suspect at the scene was arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article and causing grievous bodily harm.
Inquiries continue and officers are appealing for any of the witnesses to this incident to speak to them and share any information or video footage they have.
If you have any information or dashcam footage of disorder in the city centre at about 7pm, please contact police quoting incident number 1094 of Tuesday 30 July.