A HUGE dispersal order was put in place across Southend last night, after a number of linked disturbances and assaults across the town which involved weapons.

The dispersal order, which covered swathes of the town centre, expired in the early hours of the morning.

The Echo is hearing reports of a stabbing on Southend seafront last night around 8pm.

This has yet to be confirmed.

Here's all we know about last night's incident:

  • The dispersal zone, launched at 8.15pm, and covered Station Road in Westcliff up to Southchurch
  • It also covered Marine Parade and Western Esplanade to the south, the entirety of Southchurch Park to the east, Queensway to the north, and Hamlet Court Road and part of Station Road to the west, while also incorporating Chalkwell, Southend Central, Southend Victoria and Southend East Railway Stations
  • This folllowed several targeted assaults and reports of weapons being seen
  • One woman on social media described seeing a man "waving a knife around
  • Earier in the evening, a string of police cars and ambulance emergency response units were seen in Westcliff
  • The locations or the specifics of the incidents have yet to be confirmed

This follows two stabbings on Saturday, one in Westcliff and a second on Eastern Esplanade.

Essex Police has been contacted for further comment.