A BOY was Tasered by police after reports of a group of teenagers armed with a machete in Southend. 

Police descended on Arnold Avenue after residents reported a group of teenagers in the street armed with a large knife. 

When officers arrived, one teenager attempted to cycle away from the area and was Tasered, according to shocked residents. 

Eyewitnesses claimed the teenager was “sent flying” by the Taser and came off a bike and collided with a parked car. 

Essex Police have confirmed a Taser was deployed during the incident. 

Four people were detained by officers and one has since been charged with two counts of possession of a knife or sharp pointed article in a public place.

A teenager, who has been charged, appeared at Southend Magistrates Court yesterday. 

One witness, who asked not to be named, said: “I was walking to my local shop on the corner when all of a sudden loads of police cars came flying around.

“The police began shouting as one young lad jumped on a bike and went to ride away. The officers then Tasered him off the bike and he came off into a car on the side causing a massive dent.

“All the lads were then searched, and one had a machete. It is starting to become the norm in Southend now sadly, it is a real concern especially for our children in the future.”

Despite the charges, Essex Police is still appealing for witnesses to the incident on Friday at 3.45pm. 

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “A 15-year-old boy has been charged following an incident where someone was seen with a knife in Southend.

“We received a report shortly before 3.45pm on 2 June of someone seen with what was described as a large knife in Arnold Avenue.

“Officers attended and detained four people.

“One of them,  a 15-year-old boy from Maidstone in Kent,  was arrested and has now been charged with two counts of possession of a knife or sharp pointed article in a public place.

“He was due to appear at Southend Magistrates’ Court on June 6.

“If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.

“Please quote the crime reference number 42/98864/23.”  

Alternatively, you can contact the independent crimefighting charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.