A GANG tried to fight its way into an office building in the Southend, allegedly attacking a security worker during the incident.

A large group of about 40 youths congregated outside Maitland House, in Warrior Square, Southend on Tuesday afternoon, with a number of youths allegedly trying to barge past a security guard and into the building.

Joseph Saunders, 38, works for Frandene Limited as building manager at the office building, and claims he was assaulted by one of the group.

He said: “It’s a big office building in the city and two staff were outside and youths approached them and asked for a cigarette then a lot of others came and decided to try and storm the building.

“There was about eight of them and they tried to push their way into the building but there were about forty of them in total. It happened at about 4.15pm on Tuesday.

“I was concerned about them getting inside and one female assaulted me as I tried to stop her getting in and she punched me in the side of the ribs.”

He claims police did not attend and are not doing enough to deal with gang culture in the city.

However, Essex Police pointed towards a series of dispersal orders and “hotspot” patrols in Southend to cut down on gangs and prevent anti-social behaviour.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We received a call at around 4.15pm on Tuesday reporting a group of people were involved in a fight in Warrior Square, Southend. The report did not contain details of a specific person assaulted or injured.

“Enquiries with CCTV operators indicated that the group dispersed shortly after the call made to us.

“We’re putting huge efforts into tackling serious and violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

“This work includes ‘hotspot’ policing, intelligence gathering, using knife arches, and utilising additional powers such as dispersal orders and Section 60 powers, which are an extension of the stop-and-search activity which takes “place every day.

“We are finding, in many incidents, that people are coming from outside Southend with the intent to commit crime or disorder and, this summer, we have plans in place to deter serious disorder and tackle it where it takes place.”

Call 101 with any information about the incident.