A POLICE chief has promised Southend will stay safe despite a reduced police presence from this week - and he urged businesses to do more to protect themselves.

Chief inspector Simon Anslow, Southend district commander, has vowed to hunt down and prosecute offenders and keep the High Street area safe.

The retail crime unit, which compromised a town centre beat team of six police officers and six PCSOs, was scrapped yesterday (Monday) as part of restructuring of the force’s neighbourhood teams.

Instead of a single community policing team comprising 11 constables and seven PCSOs will feature just two officers dedicated to patrolling Southend’s town centre and seafront.

He said: “PC Martin Knights and PC Marc Cann have been selected for these roles because of their excellent knowledge of the town.

“They will be tasked with working to resolve problems relating to threat, harm and risk such as nuisance youths, homelessness and street drinking and any other on-going crime or anti-social behaviour issues occurring in the town and on the seafront.

“This change may be reported as police withdrawing from the town centre and seafront.

“Please let me reassure you that this is not the case. We will still deal with crimes reported and will still look to identify and prosecute offenders.”

Chief Insp Anslow has also urged traders to implement stringent security measures at businesses to help deter criminals.

Shop owners do not know what more they can do though and Neil Raven, owner of Ravens, in Clifftown Road, is worried by the news.

He said: “We are very disappointed, I don’t know what else I can do as a business owner.

“It is understandable as everyone has to make cuts but it is worrying going forward as to what the response will be when we need someone.

“I have a very good group of staff who are always very alert but I do not expect them to be tackling people in the store.”

Martin Terry, Southend councillor for public protection, claimed the lack of a retail crime unit would put traders at risk.

He said: “People want the police to deal with criminals and criminal behaviour.

“I have had comments from retailers that they have had shoplifters who have become violent.

“Because of the level of cuts to Southend police, they have had to wait a long time for the police to turn up while they are detaining these individuals.

“Taking the retail crime unit away is putting shop staff at risk.

“It’s just going to give the shoplifters a greenlight in Southend. If anything, I think the problem is just going to intensify.”

Crimes and shoplifters detained can no longer be reported via the Town Link radio, instead people can report a crime by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.