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Boy, 15, Charged After Southend Brawl as Police Roll Out Facial Recognition

The charge follows a policing crackdown that extends stop-and-search powers across the seafront plus deploys facial recognition.

Overview

  • Two teenagers were treated for non-life-threatening facial knife wounds after a fight involving about 30 youths on Southend High Street Friday evening.
  • Police charged a 15-year-old boy with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of a class B drug, and a 12-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of assault and violent disorder then released on bail.
  • A dispersal order under Section 35 now covers the High Street, Queensway, Hamlet Court Road and the seafront until 8 p.m. Sunday, and a Section 60 order allowing stop-and-search without suspicion runs until 8:45 p.m.
  • Extra officers, including the Operational Support Group and Dog Units, are patrolling through the bank holiday to deter further disorder and reassure shoppers and visitors.
  • Detectives are reviewing CCTV and phone footage and will use live facial recognition on Sunday in response to the incident and wider concerns after last summer’s youth disorder.