“TikTok mobs” will not be allowed to infiltrate Southend and cause trouble on the seafront, police bosses have insisted after a 25 per cent drop in crime compared to last summer.
Operation Union saw Essex Police liaise with c2c railway, British Transport Police and Southend traders to prepare for large youth gatherings broadcasted on social media during the summer.
Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington spoke to the Echo on Friday to reflect on a summer that has seen multiple dispersal orders launched and incidents of youths on social media organising beach parties on the seafront.
Chief Constable Harrington added: “You saw in London this flash mob agenda which they reacted to and we saw the challenges they had.
“We were able to help all through the use of our intelligence, social media monitoring and by having a good plan.
“Also, working with businesses in Southend we’ve built great partnerships and we’ve seen that through dealing with the TikTok mob.
“Hopefully we’ve made Southend a place where it is safe to go to and enjoy yourself but not one to commit crime.”
Police arranged several dispersal orders this summer with another in place over the weekend.
Social media activity has seen young people organise large meet ups on Southend seafront using water guns and causing further problems.
Dispersal orders on August 1 and 10 saw officers team up efficiently to handle incidents before they escalated.
One occasion saw officers stop a group of balaclava-clad youths at Stratford Station before they could board a train heading to Southend.
Mr Harrington added: “Southend is London’s beach, we see hundreds of thousands of people flocking to it as it’s a wonderful place to visit.
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“We’ve done a lot of work in the past three years to make sure we support Southend and make it as safe as we can be.
“There have been 5,500 fewer offences across the county this year and a reduction of violent crime by about a quarter this year.”
Tricia Cowdrey, Independent councillor for Kursaal ward, commended the police for their proactive work this year with Operation Union.
She said: “I think the partnership between Essex Police, British Transport Police and and the anti social behaviour team on operation union has been really strong this year.
“They’ve been able to build information year on year and have an awareness of these gatherings.
“This means they can come down on them swiftly and put measures in place like dispersal orders to prevent any further acts of violence.
“I think they’ve done really well.”
Councillor Cowdrey had first-hand experience of officers working whilst on a train journey and she felt ‘reassured’ during the situation.
She added: “It probably seems draconian but I was on the train and there were British Transport Police officers alerted to something so they were keeping an eye out. I felt really reassured by that.
“I’m sure members of the public will feel reassured by it not only when they are travelling but when they reach their destinations with officers there as well.
“Obviously CCTV and other technology will help so I think the fact they are sharing intelligence across all teams will be a big help to the city.”
Despite Operation Union’s success in the summer, Chief Constable Harrington reiterated there is a dedicated town centre team working in Southend all year round to stop criminals.
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