Reports of another knife attack in Southend have caused alarm amongst Southchurch residents.

A social media warning, shared more than three hundred times, shows a man being arrested, allegedly after slashing a man in the face with a knife and threatening to stab him with a screwdriver in the neck on Saturday night in Southchurch Rectory Chase.

Dramatic video footage from the arrest shows a man with his hands handcuffed behind his back, being escorted by six police officers towards an emergency vehicle.

However, an eyewitness has described seeing the man just one day later in the same area, banging aggressively on resident’s doors.

According to reports, the man has been a well-known presence in the area for a number of years.

Southchurch Councillor Daniel Nelson said: “I have had complaints from residents living in this area about antisocial behaviour before, and have raised this issue with both the council and the police.

“I think it is admirable to see the work of the police, and though in Southchurch in general it is not a regular occurrence to see this kind of behaviour regularly, it is extremely reassuring to see them taking the issue so seriously.

Councillor with responsibility for public protection, Councillor Mark Flewitt, said: “Words can’t describe how chilling it is to hear about an incident such as this, and my first thought is of course with the victim.

“Incidents like this are particularly difficult, because despite all the really intensive work we as a council have done with the police and the community to try and reduce knife crime and other serious crime, you can’t predict something like this.

“All we can do is urge witnesses to come forward to the police to reduce threats like these on our streets.”

An Essex Police Spokesperson said: “Officers attended the scene and arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and criminal damage. The man was taken into custody and questioned by detectives.

“An investigation was launched and detectives put their best efforts into securing evidence to support a prosecution.

“However, due to the fact that the victim is no longer engaging with our officers, there is no CCTV footage capturing the incident, and there are no independent witnesses the man was released with no further action.

“Even if a suspect is identified we need evidence such as CCTV or an account from a victim or witness to enable us to meet the threshold to seek a charge. Without that a suspect cannot be charged or face a trial.

“Anyone who has further information about this incident can contact us on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Police have claimed that violence with injury crimes in Southend have reduced by five per cent in the last year compared to the previous year.