#safesouthend is a campaign group set up to call for greater numbers of police in our town.

Since 2010, due to austerity cuts to budgets, Essex Police have lost 750 experienced officers and hundreds more support staff vital for running the service. 21,000 officers have been cut across the country, despite warnings from the Police Federation, and as a result serious crime has risen.

Southend has suffered greatly, with the local press reporting many residents are scared to go out at night or even venture into the high street. Knife crime has been a major problem which is often linked with gang related drug activity, with young people exploited, acting as drug transportation.

The people of Southend have had enough but the government and council hasn’t been listening. The council’s plan to hire a private security firm , paid similar salaries to fully warranted officers, without the arresting powers of police is a flawed strategy.

Recent additional funding awarded to police budgets will be used to fill the pension black hole, or meet inflation related increases to the operational costs of running the services. Any further officers will be funded by increases of the council tax, hitting the poorest who had already suffered through the cuts.

#SafeSouthend call on the government, the home office and Southend Council to provide extra police officers, to protect the public and to not tax residents any further.

Please sign our petition if you would like to see extra police in Southend.