Southend seafront sees dispersal order issued as gangs spark concerns

A dispersal order is in place in Southend covering Eastern and Western Esplanade, Marine Parade and the High Street.

The order will run between 4.30pm today and 2am on Wednesday.

It comes in response to incidents of anti-social behaviour and concerns raised by traders along the seafront.

Order - It also covers the high street and town centre

Acting Inspector Dave Gardiner of the Southend Community Policing Team said: “We began to see groups of males arriving at the train station and along the seafront in the middle of the afternoon and received multiple calls from business owners who expressed their unease.

“We will take robust action against anyone behaving anti-socially or committing acts of violence.

“There will be a considerable police presence across the city and we will be working with the council’s CCTV operators and our colleagues at the British Transport Police to identify troublemakers and prevent them from spoiling the evening for the law-abiding majority.”