A LARGE brawl broke out at Southend’s town centre skate park, with residents revealing they regularly witness “violence and drug dealing”.

A dispersal order was put in place on Monday from 8pm to 2am yesterday covering large parts of the town centre, including Warrior Square, south of Queensway and both the Victoria and the Royals shopping centres.

It followed a large fight breaking out between youths in and the Warrior Square Skate Park.

Additional patrols were carried out as part of the dispersal order with police confirming there were no further issues and no arrests made.

Police bosses say they are aware of ongoing reported crimes and are working hard to reduce the impact on residents.

A 52-year-old resident, of Whitegate Road, near the skate park, revealed he often witnesses fights and drug dealing on his doorstep.

He said: “There are always on going incidents and issues right outside my house. About a week go I witnessed a fight and drug dealing going on with a dealer attacking another person.

“Then a week before that there was another incident with a drug dealer badly beating a drug user. I don’t want to see this going on and I am more worried about children and women than myself.

“It’s getting ridiculous and I plan to get a group of residents to together to raise concerns and help dealt with this.”

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There was an incident in March when residents reported a 20-strong gang ran riot in the park and smashed a bike shelter.

David Garston, Tory shadow councillor for community safety said he feels for families with this happening to close by.

He said: “The skate park is in the middle of a residential area and we and the police are very aware of this.

“This would have been frightening for families and I would think any using facilities would have had to leave quickly too.

“It’s just thoughtless and people have got to think about the impact of their actions on others and how it can disturb others too.”

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He said there’s been issues in the past with drug dealing and rough sleepers in the park.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “A dispersal order was authorised in Southend following reports of a large groups of teenagers behaving anti-socially in and around Warrior Square Skate Park. Officers attended and dispersed the group. They also patrolled the area to identify anyone who may be intent on committing crime or behaving antisocially, to keep the residents safe.

"After the order was issued, there were no further reports of anti-social behaviour in the area and no arrests were made."

Inspector David Gardiner, from the Southend Community Policing Team, said: “We are aware of concerns relating to anti-social behaviour and drugs at the skate park in Warrior Square.

“We know how much of an impact these issues are on people living around the area and we’re working with our partners to tackle them.

“The area is regularly patrolled by officers from our Community Policing Team, Southend Borough Council’s Community Safety Team and Street Engagement Team.

“Where we have identified individuals we believe are responsible for causing issues we are taking enforcement action against them.

“We continue to work with our partners on other solutions to ensure people feel safe using the skate park.

“I would urge anyone who has concerns or witnesses crime, disorder or anti-social behaviour to report it to us.”

If you have any information you can submit a report online at https://www.essex.police.uk or use the 'Live Chat' button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm.
You can also call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.