SHOCKED residents have called for the reinstallation of CCTV cameras following a brawl in a Southend street.

Four men were arrested in connection to the fight, which involved a number of people with weapons, in Stanley Road on Monday.

A temporary CCTV camera had been installed in the road following the murder of Hassan Mohammed Ibrahim in nearby York Road last July.

The camera came down earlier this year to be redeployed elsewhere in the borough, but after the latest incident, which prompted a response from armed police, a dog unit and the police helicopter, residents have called for it to return.

Keith Kelsey, chairman of the Kursaal Residents’ Association, said: “We are all for CCTV, the more cameras the better. If you’ve got nothing to hide you’ve got nothing to worry about.

“The police did the right thing with their response if there were weapons being used, but I just hope this is a one-off incident and not related to drugs as we do not want that back here.”

Police executed a number of warrants in the York Road area last year to try to rid the road of drug-related crime problems.

One Stanley Road resident, who asked not to be named, said it was time for the CCTV to be brought back after noticing an increase in trouble since the camera was removed.

He said: “When the camera came down, two or three months ago, it went back to exactly how it was before.

“We should not have to put up with it, but we get used to it.

“There are fights, crime, people have had their doors smashed in and you get offered drugs as you walk down the street.”

Judith McMahon, Southend Labour councillor for Kursaal ward, backed residents claims and called for everyone to work to together to make a safer community.

She said: “I would support, without reservation, the reintroduction of the CCTV in Stanley Road.

“At our latest Street Meet with police and residents Stanley Road was identified a priority for viewing the aspects of antisocial behaviour and crime that have given rise to so many problems.

“The current police officers are as proactive as I have ever known and I would urge any like-minded people to join the residents association and work with them.”

Police chief allays fears after armed response

SOUTHEND’S police chief has moved to allay residents’ fears after the armed response.

Chief insp Simon Anslow spoke after armed police were called to the Stanley Road fight on Monday afternoon and an unrelated firearms incident in Southchurch Road in the early evening.

These incidents come after a teenager was arrested on suspicion of a firearms incident in Eastern Esplanade last Wednesday (June 24).

He said: “The incidents have been high profile because of our response to them.

“These are just three incidents that are unrelated to one another other than by the fact that they are within the Southend central area.

“They needed the high profile response but actually they impacted on very few people.

“Our response to them has been good and swift, and has led to people being arrested and no other people being hurt.

“We are a busy town but there has been no sea change in Southend that should cause people undue concern.”

Following the incident in Southchurch Road on Monday, a 46-year-old man from Southend was arrested on suspicion of a possessing a firearm with intent.

He remains in custody. but following a search of the scene at Christchurch Court, no weapon was found.