THE latest stabbings in Southend saw a dispersal order almost the size of the town itself put in place.

The attack on two teenagers in Beach Road on Monday night last week saw a massive response from police, covering Station Road in Westcliff and up to Southchurch.

The zone for extra stop and search powers extended to many parts of the borough.

The huge incident raised concerns that gang crime in Southend was “out of control” – right in the middle of Anti-Social Behaviour Week, a national campaign to raise awareness of the issue.

But assistant chief constable of Essex Police, Andy Prophet, said dispersal orders were a key tool for short term intervention.

He described the incident in Southend as “unpleasant” but praised officers’ responses.

He said: “We want people subject to them to have the confidence to call us and we will work hard to understand the problem and take the right action, take robust action to deal with the perpetrator and arrest, or whatever is appropriate.

“We need to make sure we have a good, visible police presence in Old Leigh.

“There was a car cruise event on Saturday July 17, and we have a small minority drive their cars dangerously and as a result a dispersal order was put in place to break that up.

“Dispersal orders and short-term intervention are imperatively useful.

“You need to have short term intervention and a dispersal order is an example of that.

“Other options are available as well, but absolutely long-term planning, targeting the right people, targeting the people running the drug gangs. That’s what Essex Police is about.”

Leigh, Chalkwell and Southend have seen numerous dispersal orders in the past seven months. In February, 18-year-old Luke Bellfield was stabbed to death near the Peterboat in Old Leigh.

In June, a teenager was stabbed on Leigh’s Broadway, and numerous other incidents have taken place.

Two fatal stabbings have taken place in Basildon this year, including dad-of-four James Gibbons who was killed in Iris Mews, Laindon in May, and another man who was stabbed to death in Northlands Park this month.

Despite this, Mr Prophet says the work of the police’s Serious Violence Unit is helping to bring things under control across south Essex.

He added: “Every month we are arresting gang members and putting them before the courts.

“In the last three months we have locked up 100 local drug dealers across the county.

“That effort is going to continue.”

Det Chief Insp Lews Basford, from the unit, said it had helped make 254 arrests and seize £204,000 in assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

He said: “Five people have lost their lives needlessly to knife crime so far this year and that’s five too many.

“Every life lost or altered by the effects of violent crime causes ripples of devastation through families and communities.

“We will not stop pursuing those who carry weapons with the intent to cause harm and bringing them to justice.

“If you carry a weapon, you will be arrested.

“There’s a strong link between drugs and weapon carrying, and people involved in this lifestyle put themselves at greater risk of being involved in violence.”