July 31st 2024.
A peaceful seaside town in Essex, Southend-on-Sea, was thrown into chaos as up to a thousand young people flocked to the area, causing trouble and violence. The situation quickly escalated, with one man being stabbed and eight individuals being arrested by the police. Additionally, seven weapons were seized from the hooded and masked youths, who were seen brandishing large knives in the middle of the road.
The trouble began in the early afternoon as groups of young people arrived in Southend, mostly by train. However, the real chaos didn't start until around 7pm on Tuesday evening. Videos captured the disturbing sight of three individuals running in the road with knives, while police officers looked on. Nicola Tiney, who runs a hotel on the seafront, estimated that around a thousand young people had descended upon the town, causing mayhem and disrupting the peace. She described the scene as "like a herd of bulls", with large groups of hooded and masked youths running around and even stopping traffic.
Tiney also mentioned that many of the young troublemakers were wearing masks and hats, clearly intending to cause trouble. The situation only got worse as the group gathered at one end of the seafront, engaging in fights and even pulling out machetes in the middle of the road. Tiney had to quickly usher her customers inside for their safety. Although she didn't witness anyone getting hurt, she did see the youths throwing machetes at each other and even throwing one into the sea. The violence continued as the group moved towards the town center, with reports of knives and machetes being used among themselves.
The situation was so out of control that two people had to be taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One was airlifted to Royal London Hospital, while the other was taken by police to Southend University Hospital. In one specific incident, an assault with an offensive weapon was witnessed by both security staff and members of the public. One suspect was arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article and causing grievous bodily harm.
Essex Police believes that the violence was between different groups of young men and women who had traveled to Southend. To prevent any further incidents, a Section 60 dispersal order has been put in place, giving police the authority to stop and search anyone they suspect of carrying an offensive weapon. This order will remain in effect until 8pm on Wednesday and covers several areas, including Marine Parade, Pier Hill, High Street, and both railway stations in the city.
Chief Superintendent Leighton Hammett of the Essex Police described the disorder as "targeted attacks involving just a small fraction of the visitors to Southend." He assured the public that there will be a greater police presence in the town on Wednesday evening and Thursday. He also emphasized that Southend is generally a safe place, with a decrease in violent crime and knife-related incidents in the past year.
To address the issue, the British Transport Police, along with the local council's community safety officers and CCTV team, are working together with private security teams from pubs and leisure attractions. Train operator c2c is also cooperating with the police, as many of the individuals involved in the violence had used their services to travel to and from the town. Despite the chaos caused by these youths, the authorities are taking measures to ensure the safety and security of Southend-on-Sea.
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