Warzone on sea: Locals reveal how Southend is beset by terrifying gangs as thousands of families flock to its beaches every year

Terrified locals have described how one of Britain’s most popular and once peaceful seaside areas has become a ‘warzone’ with some now claiming the only way to restore order is to arm the police with guns. 

Gang warfare between local youths and those travelling down from London has been blamed for an ‘explosion’ in violence and sexual crime in Southend-On-Sea in Essex.

There are now fears that the six million tourists who flock to the area each year will abandon it in droves after an escalation in ‘carnage’ which has seen terrfying instances of knife fights in the street. 

The situation came to a head at the end of July when horrific footage showed gangs of hooden thugs armed with machetes fighting near the Adventure Island theme park.

Dozens of terrified tourists were forced to flee on foot when the violence erupted.

While Southend battles violent gangs thousands of families flock to its sandy beaches 

At the end of July, a group of youths began fighting with machetes near the Adventure Island theme park

Six people were arrested in the chaos which caused panicked families to flee the scene

Shop owner Rory Coase, 66, said the situation was so bad he wanted to see police armed with guns

Local groups claimed glass bottles were smashed and windows kicked in as part of the campaign of antisocial behaviour, while officers trying to disperse the crowds were attacked. 

Police are now continuing their investigation into the incidents of disorder, with ‘several lines of enquiry’ to identify further suspects in addition to the six arrested. 

Tragically, locals and business owners have said it is far from an isolated incident, with regular violence breaking out among rival factions.

Police stats show how Southend Central saw a shocking 280 violent and sexual crimes in June. 

That is a shocking nine incidents a day in those crime categories alone.

There were also 72 cases of criminal damage and arson, 69 shoplifting offences and 63 anti-social behaviour crimes.

In total this was 729 crimes in June.

The number in May was even higher with 780 – made up of a staggering 317 violence and sexual crimes.

Both months were a rise on April – which still saw 264 violent and sexual crimes.

Police stats show how Southend Central saw a shocking 280 violent and sexual crimes in June recorded alone

Locals say the area outside the Adventure Island theme park has become a focal point for anti-social behaviour

Locals say there has been an ‘explosion’ in violence and sexual crime in Southend-On-Sea

Shop owner Rory Coase, 66, said the situation was so bad he wanted to see police armed with guns.

He said: ‘The police response is so weak I think they should be at least Tasering them.

‘In America they are armed, why not here?

‘There is no deterrent. They do whatever they want.

‘I’ve been here 38 years. I am scared. The machete incident was horrific.’

Martin Redwood, 44, has lived in Southend all his life and described it in the last year as like the ‘wild west’.

The builder said: ‘It’s a nightmare. I do not feel safe and I want to get my family out of Southend as soon as possible.

‘Our house is soon going up for sale.

‘I am scared. The machete violence was appalling. It’s like a warzone at the moment.

‘It is all fuelled by rival gangs. It’s youths coming down to London and starting trouble with youths here in Essex.

‘Southend is the meeting place. They’ll soon be an attack where a lot of people are killed.

‘The police are barely here. There’s no respect for them anyway.’

He said he witnessed the start of the machete incident which he described as a ‘rampage’.

He added: ‘Windows are being kicked in, there’s beatings, youths are armed with knives.

‘It’s brazen. This is supposed to be one of Britain’s best tourist and seaside destinations.

‘With the way it’s going, that will be killed off.’

Yazmin Celpham, 17, who works in Lena’s Cafe in the city, said she had seen an escalation in violence

Locals fear the area has become a ‘meeting place’ for youths intent on causing disorder

David Cullen, 64, who has lived in the city since 2011, said he was intimidated living in Southend

Yazmin Celpham, 17, who works in Lena’s Cafe in the city, said she had seen an escalation in violence.

She said: ‘It’s all the youths coming down from London.

‘They are regularly having to close the train station platforms.

‘It’s shocking. They are only about 15 or 16.

‘It’s intimidating. They think they can do what they want.

‘This is my home city and I want to feel safe.’

Kerry Bradshaw – who lives in nearby Leigh-on-Sea – was in Southend shopping but said she avoided it at night because of safety fears.

The 64-year-old said: ‘I am too scared to come here at night.

‘I didn’t want to come here. It’s rough now. I avoid it.

‘It’s scary, awful and frightening here.’

Essex Police do have a pod in the town. A place often manned by officers to provide a visible presence in the area and reassure locals.

When Mail Online visited this week it was closed.

David Cullen, 64, who has lived in the city since 2011, said he was intimidated living in Southend.

He added: ‘I have no idea how they will stop it.

‘There’s youths doing what they want. There’s vandalism. It’s out of control.’

Another local said: ‘They carry out vandal attacks, there’s an awful lot of shoplifting.

‘A lot of it is kids on bikes doing what they want because they know they’ll get away with it.

‘There’s often violence at night between youths from London and locals.

‘I reckon a lot of them will be armed with knives.’