Southend policing operation launched over violent incidents

Live facial recognition will be deployed across Southend on numerous occasions as part of this new operation and there will be a significant police presence in key areas at all times of the day, some of which police say will be visible and some of which will not.

The operation has been launched after a number of violent incidents in the city over the last three months including two at the weekend

Essex Police's response to these incidents has resulted in four arrests being made, with targeted work ongoing to locate and arrest a number of other people officers would like to speak to.

In one of those incidents, which took place at 1.40am yesterday in Southchurch Road, Southend, officers charged a man early this morning with possession of a blade or pointed article and affray.

District commander - Chief Inspector Dave Browning (Image: Essex Police)Chief Inspector Dave Browning, Southend district commander, said: “We’re launching a sustained and significant operation to stamp out incidents of violence in Southend – and to arrest and charge those who we believe to be involved in them.

“Throughout this time, there will heightened policing activity focused in the right places, on the right people and for the right reasons.

“In Southend, we have around 200 officers available to us over a 24 hour period, and they have a range of police specialisms which ensure offenders are identified and caught and have strong cases built against them. These 200 officers are supported by our detectives and other force wide specialist teams.

“Over the last three months, we have seen a number of incidents of violence in Southend and I know people are concerned. These are the actions of a criminal minority but those actions impact on the innocent majority.

“We do have experience in dealing with people who believe they can commit serious crime in our area. And when this has happened before, we have identified those involved, made arrests and ultimately secured charges and put them before the courts.

“We’re determined to use all the resources available to us to keep our city safe for everyone – except for criminals.

“I want to be clear, if you think you can come here, plan to commit crime or carry a weapon, you will be identified and you will be arrested.”

Operation - police officers in Eastwood (Image: Essex Police)

Turning to the most recent incidents over the weekend, the district commander has urged residents not to share video circulating on social media of an incident in Southend city centre.

Ch Insp Browning added: “In Southchurch Road, as many will have now seen on a video widely circulating on social media, a number of brave members of the public were involved in an altercation with a man on a bike.

“Although I won’t comment directly on that incident, I would say that this shows the sentiment of our community; of good people who do not want weapons or the threat of serious violence in our city – but purely for safety reasons, I would never ask members of the public to intervene in such a potentially serious situation. Please – always call the police immediately in any situation such as this.

“I would urge anyone thinking of sharing this video not to. This is very much a live investigation, with a number of targeted lines of enquiry being followed.

“I have also noted comments that police were not in the area to deal with that incident. A video of the incident does not show several response police officers arriving, again, within six minutes of being alerted to the incident and making an arrest. Subsequent work by a number of teams also led to a second arrest.

“These separate incidents are not being directly linked – but as with any investigation we will not hesitate to do so should the evidence guide us to that conclusion.”