Chief Inspector’s Update - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Chief Inspector’s Update – By Southend District Commander Chief Inspector Dave Browning.

Chief Inspector’s Update - By Southend District Commander Chief Inspector Dave Browning.

Leigh On Sea News: Chief Inspector’s Update – By Southend District Commander Chief Inspector Dave Browning.

Essex Police officers in Southend supporting safe space.

By Southend District Commander Chief Inspector Dave Browning.

A SAFE space on Southend Highstreet. The Safe Space for anyone who feels vulnerable or in danger on a night out in Southend has returned to the city centre.

The mobile unit is staffed by up to eight police officers, with regular assistance from street pastors, drug and alcohol support workers, and Southend City Council’s community safety officers.

It operates from 8pm to 5.30am every Friday and Saturday night, and on nights where significant numbers of visitors are anticipated.

It starts the evening adjacent to HSBC and the Odeon cinema before moving to Warrior Square towards midnight.

Funding secured by the council from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and the Safer Streets initiative will see Safe Space run through to August 2025.

This month has also seen the launch of free drink-check wristbands in Southend in a joint-initiative between police and the council, believed to be a national first.

Confirmed incidents of drink spiking are extremely rare, but it is hoped the wristbands, which will be available alongside bottle toppers and drink covers, will add an additional layer of reassurance.

Work by officers leads to 40% fall in Violence – The work of officers tackling incidents of violence in Southend has led to as significant decrease in serious incident across the city.

Since our sustained and significant policing operation was launched in the very early part of October we’ve seen a 40% decrease in incidents of serious violence in Southend.

And in that time, of a group of about ten people who we had identified as being involved in a number of incidents, nine have been charged with offences which have seen them remanded into custody.

For those who are not in custody at this stage, they are the subject of targeted and regular monitoring by officers. This is to ensure their opportunity to commit crime is severely curtailed.

Our work to tackle this group and others who we believe are connected – will continue throughout December and into 2025.

Events for Leigh, Eastwood and Westcliff :

Friday 13 December 2pm to 3pm

Haven age concern

Hamlet court road, Westcliff on sea, SS0 7LW.

Saturday 14 December 4pm to 5pm

Cliffs Pavilion

Station Road, Westcliff on sea, SS0 7RA.

Monday 16 December 11am to 12pm

Waitrose and Partner

1231 London Road, Leigh on sea, SS9 3JA.

Wednesday 18 December 11am to 12pm

Wakey Wakey Café

1472 London Road, Leigh on sea, SS9 2UR.

Friday 20 December 10am to 11am

Haven age concern

Hamlet court road, Westcliff on sea, SS0 7LW.

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