A senior councillor has shared residents' anger and concern over the recent "machete fights," while maintaining that Southend is still a "safe city" and assuring intelligence is being monitored to prevent any future incidents.

On Tuesday night, disturbing footage on social media showed several people dressed in black, brandishing large knives along Southend seafront.

A viral video also showed a group engaging in a "machete fight", as a "large influx" of young people headed to the city, reportedly for a beach party advertised on TikTok.

Yesterday, Essex Police confirmed that eight people had been arrested and seven weapons were seized.

Two stabbing victims were also taken to hospital.

Matt Dent, Labour councillor responsible for business, culture, and tourism, has shared the anger and concern of residents following the night of violence and disorder. 

However, he insisted that Southend is a safe city and they will "not allow a small minority of criminals to change that".

Mr Dent also revealed that intelligence is being monitored and swift preventative action will be taken in response to any evidence of a future recurrence.

He said: "Following the horrifying events on Southend seafront and city centre on Tuesday evening, I wanted to give what I could by way of an update.

"As Essex Police have already outlined, a group of people travelled from outside Southend into our city, intent on committing crime and disorder. Eight arrests were made and a number of weapons seized.

"What happened on Tuesday was not acceptable in any form. Southend is a welcoming place, but those who come here intending violence and criminality are not and never will be welcome here.

"I understand and share the anger and concern of residents about how this could have happened in our city, and there are questions which will still need to be answered on this topic going forward.

"In the immediate term the additional police patrolling the seafront and city centre will be remaining, and Southend Council will be in close contact with both Essex Police and British Transport Police, as well as the railway operators and local businesses.

"Intelligence is being monitored and swift preventative action will be taken in response to any evidence of a future recurrence.

"Despite what happened on Tuesday, Southend is a safe city, and we will not allow a small minority of criminals to change that."