A boy has been sentenced after officers seized a large knife from him in a public place.

On Tuesday, September 18, PC Ben Lever and PC Justin Skinner from Southend Local Policing Team were patrolling the high street and surrounding areas when they arrested a 15-year-old boy from Southend and seized a large kitchen knife from him.

He appeared at Basildon Youth Court on Tuesday, October 2 and admitted possession of a knife in a public place.

He was sentenced to a nine month referral order and ordered to pay £45 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

The knife will be destroyed.

If you want to report information about knife crime, you can call 101 or report it to us online: www.essex.police.uk/doitonline. In an emergency always call 999.

You can also report information about knife crime anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.