Essex Police has hit back at claims that Southend is a "no-go zone" after violence broke out among teenagers, some brandishing machetes.
Eight people were charged after the incident on 30 July, including a 16-year-old accused of attempted murder and possession of a firearm. They all remain in custody.
The town came in for criticism in the media but Chief Superintendent Leighton Hammett defended its crime levels. He said officers responded quickly and “robustly” to the violence, making “arrests within minutes”.
Denne historien er fra August 19, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 19, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Coalition government likely in Ireland as count proceeds
Fianna Fail say decisions on power-sharing for another day’
How Syria's forgotten war is back on the world's agenda
Many believed the country was lost in an unsolvable conflict, until everything changed in a matter of days, writes Bel Trew
Assad regime scrambles to halt Syrian rebels’ advance
Civilians reportedly killed by Russian and Syrian airstrikes
Mother of poisoning victim says she knew she would die
Lawyer Simone White succumbed to the effects of methanol while backpacking in Laos with two of her childhood friends
Pensioner, 95, left on cold.pavement with broken hip
A 95-year-old woman was left on a cold pavement for more than five hours waiting for an ambulance after the emergency services told a bystander trying to help her that she wasn’t a priority.
Snow and frost forecast as parts of the UK face 7C
The Met Office has warned Britons to expect more snow this week as temperatures plunge to below-freezing in some regions.
Man arrested in relation to rape claim at Groucho Club
A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape following an alleged incident at one of Soho’s most famous private members’ clubs, Metropolitan Police have said.
Eight injured after car hits crowd at Christmas market
Two children are among six people taken to hospital after a car crashed into a group of pedestrians at a Christmas market.
Will this 'plan for change' reverse Labour's fortunes?
Sir Keir Starmer's time in government was summed up yesterday by Sky's Trevor Phillips as \"the Taylor Swift tickets, the suits, the dresses, the glasses, the No 10 passes, the chief of staff sacked inside six months\".
PM warned on 'destructive' food trade deal with the US
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned a comprehensive trade deal with the US under Donald Trump would \"destroy our family farms and healthy food standards\".
