Chaos has erupted in Southend-on-Sea in the wake of "disorder" this evening - with crowds told to leave until tomorrow afternoon.
Authorities said they had arrested six individuals as part of an "ongoing incident" in the Essex seaside city earlier this evening while its MP told the public to stay away.
An Essex Police statement confirmed the arrests had been made following the disorder, while a dispersal order has been imposed following "anti-social behaviour in the city".
The force's Acting Inspector Stephen Wells slammed the behaviour, saying Essex Police "will not tolerate" it across the city and the county as a whole.
IMPORTANT - We are aware of the ongoing incident in Southend City Centre and the Jubilee Beach area. A dispersal order is currently in place. We encourage all residents to keep away from the area for the time being. @EssexPoliceUK will provide more information in due course.
— David Burton-Sampson MP (@DavidBSampson) July 30, 2024
Wells continued: "Members of the public have the right to use this public space without the fear of being harassed or distressed.
"This is a busy part of the city during school holidays and everyone is entitled to use this space respectfully of other people.
"If you're in Southend today and tomorrow you can expect to see a visible police presence in the city centre - and if you have any concerns please come and speak to us."
Later, in the wake of the dispersal order's imposition, Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin said: "We want to make sure our communities are safe and we will use all the appropriate powers at our disposal to do so.
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A machete fight on the seafront preceded large-scale disorderX"Our officers have responded to these incidents reported by members of the public this evening, and the information they provided is invaluable.
"I would also like to thank the vast law-abiding majority of the public for their co-operation today.
"But we know there are other witnesses to these incidents who may have important details to share.
"We will have a visible presence in Southend this evening and tomorrow - if you know something, please speak to one of our officers or contact us to help."
David Burton-Sampson, pictured here in 2016, warned the public to stay away
PA
In the lead-up to the disorder, which has seen crowds of young people running across the seafront and reportedly clashing with police, further footage circulated social media of three youths fighting each other with "machetes".
An eyewitness, Matt Purcel, told local outlet Your Southend that a "young man" was running through the city's high street holding a "big carving knife".
Purcel added: "I was walking up Southend high street from the seafront. It was packed with teenagers.
"I got to the university on the high street, saw people running, and at the back of the university on Luker Way, was a young male with others running around him with a big carving knife in his hand. They ran off towards Southend Central. I called 999."
