A DISPERSAL order will be in place in Southend in response to the possibility of a large group of people travelling to the city.

Police are aware of an event planned to take place in Southend, similar to a previous event when a large group travelled to on Tuesday, August 1.

The order will be in place from noon tomorrow, August 10, and does not mean there is a blanket ban on people coming to Southend.

Instead, it gives officers the power to direct people suspected of acting anti-socially to leave the area.

Echo: Closed Off - The dispersal area in SouthendClosed Off - The dispersal area in Southend (Image: Essex Police)

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “The order will be in place for up to 48 hours and will be reviewed regularly.

“The area covered is shown in the attached maps, and includes Southend High Street, Marine Parade, Pier Hill, Western Esplanade and Southend Central Train Station.”

The dispersal order follows last week’s order put in place on August 1.

Officers were called to a large disturbance in Southend, where hundreds of teenagers descended to the seafront – on the same day Home Secretary Suella Braverman visited Leigh.

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> Southend seafront chaos saw dispersal order issued

Traders were forced to close early and compared the chaos to a “war zone” as disorder broke out.

If residents do not leave the area they could be arrested, police will have a ‘significant’ presence in the city throughout the day and continuing into the weekend.

Chief Superintendent Waheed Khan, south local policing area commander, added: “Southend is really great place for people to visit and we want to encourage people to come here, enjoy the seafront and make use of the brilliant attractions and businesses.

Echo: Dispersal - The final portion of the closed off area in SouthendDispersal - The final portion of the closed off area in Southend (Image: Essex Police)

“But if people come here and behave antisocially or commit crime, the reality is we’re going to take a robust approach to that and people acting that way could ultimately end up in a police cell.

“Throughout Thursday, and indeed as we enter this weekend, there will be an obvious police presence in city. We’re there to help people and make sure people can enjoy the city safely.

“I would say to anyone coming to Southend planning on causing trouble, please think twice, it won’t be tolerated, and you’ll be arrested.”