Essex Police issued two dispersal orders in Southend over the weekend of 11 April 2026 to curb a recent surge in antisocial behaviour and serious violence. The orders allowed officers to remove individuals from the city centre and seafront, following a week marked by several violent incidents.
The first order was in place from 7.20pm on Friday 10 April until 2am on Saturday 11 April. A second, wider order came into force at 1pm on Saturday 11 April and remained active until 1am on Monday 13 April. These measures were authorised under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which grants police the authority to direct people suspected of causing trouble to leave a specific area. Anyone who fails to comply with such a direction faces the risk of arrest.
The restrictions covered a significant portion of central Southend, including the High Street, Marine Parade, Western Esplanade, the Victoria and Royals Shopping Centre, and both the Southend Central and Southend Victoria train stations. The action follows a series of troubling events in the city during the preceding week, including a stabbing and car attack on 5 April that left a man with serious injuries, and an assault on a teenage boy in the High Street on 8 April.
Police reported that large groups of young people have been travelling into the city in the evenings and engaging in antisocial behaviour. In connection with these issues, two people were arrested on the night of 10 April for theft and assault, while an 18-year-old man was arrested regarding the earlier attack on the teenager.
Inspector Penny McQuade of the Essex Police stated that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated. The force has warned that anyone visiting the city to cause distress to residents and visitors will be directed to leave the area.
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