Police have put a dispersal order in place for Southend city centre amid fears it could fall victim to a social media-inspired crime wave after Wednesday’s scenes of disorder in Oxford Street.
Essex police said the order, which gives officers the power to tell people suspected of anti-social behaviour to leave the area or face arrest, would be in place for up to 48 hours.
They insisted there was not “a blanket ban” on people going to the seaside resort and described the move as “part of our response to the possibility of a large group of people travelling to the city”.
It comes after a social media post urged followers to travel to the city’s beaches and “get lit” - slang for partying and getting intoxicated with alcohol and drugs.
Chief Superintendent Waheed Khan, South local policing area commander, said on Thursday: “I want to be really clear that we – and of course the city’s attractions and businesses – want people to come to Southend, we want them to use all the facilities here – but we won’t tolerate crime and antisocial behaviour.
“We have a significant policing presence in the city today. That includes the city centre, across the seafront and close to the train stations.
“The dispersal order is by no means a blanket ban on people coming to Southend and enjoying all it has to offer, but if people come here and behave antisocially or commit crime, the reality is we’re going to take a robust approach to that and people acting that way could ultimately end up in a police cell.
“Throughout today, and indeed as we enter this weekend, there will be an obvious police presence in city. We’re there to help people and make sure people can enjoy the city safely. But equally, the officers will respond appropriately and robustly if they have to.”
It comes as Home Secretary Suella Braverman called for those who took part in the suspected TikTok-inspired disorder in Oxford Street to be “hunted down” and jailed.
Footage showed police wielding batons in a clash with dozens of young men and wrestling some of them away, while officers on horseback helped to disperse hundreds of people in Europe’s busiest shopping street on Wednesday.
West End stores were forced to close their shutters and lock customers inside during the looting raid, which was believed to have been inspired by a social media campaign encouraging people to take part in a mass robbery.
The Metropolitan Police arrested nine people and issued 34 dispersal orders during the incident.
We cannot allow the kind of lawlessness seen in some American cities to come to the streets of the UK.
— Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) August 10, 2023
The police have my full backing to do whatever necessary to ensure public order. 1/2 https://t.co/IgKQbPM4zw
Sharing a video on X of police clashing with youths, Ms Braverman said: “We cannot allow the kind of lawlessness seen in some American cities to come to the streets of the UK.
“The police have my full backing to do whatever necessary to ensure public order.
“Those responsible must be hunted down & locked up. I expect nothing less from the @metpoliceuk and have requested a full incident report.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the force warned there would be a heavy police presence in the area following “online speculation” about opportunities to commit crime there, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged people not to take part and decried the “nonsense” circulating on TikTok.
