FOLLOWING the five arrests made after a stabbing at Seaway car park in Southend early on Friday morning, councillors expressed their concern over rising knife crime.

Councillor for housing, planning and sustainability Mark Flewitt said: “It’s unacceptable, we’ve got to punish any perpetrators to reinforce our stance against knife crime.

“Once caught and proved guilty, perpetrators need to be punished harshly and severely. Giving lenient punishments is not the answer.

“It gives the town a terrible reputation, its an appalling act at a time we are asking people to visit and do business in the town.”

The news comes weeks after local organisations and citizens participated in patrols and handed out leaflets warning of the ’negative consequences of carrying knives or weapons’.

Ann Holland, councillor for culture, tourism and the economy, said: “I sometimes despair at the devastation people cause. It just devastating for family and friends. It’s sad that we have a few in society that cause horrendous harm and flout the law but unfortunately it happens everywhere.

“The fact they’ve made five arrests is very positive and we’ve been making progress with the anti-knife crime campaigns. There no excuse for stabbing somebody, we do what we can with the crime and disorderly board but some people will never care. Working together is all we can do, but I’m glad the police have had success. My thoughts are with his family.”

Councillor for corporate and community support services, Andrew Moring said: “Unfortunately these thing do still happen. We can’t expect the police to be waiting around for these things.

“Saying that, I am impressed by how quickly the police acted.”

The incident happened in the Seaway carpark opposite Talk nightclub after one of their events.

The Echo contacted Talk Nightclub but have not yet received a response.