POLICE officers worked overtime in Southend last night in the hope of preventing crime in the city centre.

In the move, the police are calling ‘Operation Grip- Safe Space’, six Essex Police officers were based in the High Street.

Two officers were stationed outside the Odeon at the top of the High Street and four officers patrolled around the street and surrounding areas.

Southend District police said they “want the community to be able to enjoy what Southend has to offer.”

The officers on patrol consist of Police working overtime alongside the Local Police Team and Community Police Team.

The high visibility patrol comes after a serious incident earlier this week in which a man was stabbed.

Two men have since been charged following the incident in Southend which happened in the afternoon of Tuesday, November 28.

A man was taken to hospital after suffering a single stab wound to his torso.

An investigation is ongoing, a spokesman for Essex Police said: “If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact.

“Please quote incident 682 of November 28.”