Seaside town descends into chaos as TikTok troublemakers gather to ’cause trouble’ after ‘looting’ Oxford Street
Chaos reigns in a seaside town as TikTok troublemakers gather to ‘stirr up trouble’ after ‘looting’ Oxford Street.
Yobs are reportedly planning to set themselves on fire on the beach in Southend, Essex today.
3
3
An eviction order is now in place, giving police officers the power to evict troublemakers from the city center.
Chief Superintendent Waheed Khan said: “I want to be very clear that we want people to come to Southend – but we will not tolerate crime and anti-social behaviour.”
“We have a significant police presence in the city today. These include the city center, the seafront promenade and the proximity of the train stations.”
He added: “The dissolution order is by no means a blanket ban on people coming to Southend and enjoying all that it has to offer.”
“But if people come here and behave anti-socially or commit crimes, the reality is that we will take decisive action.”
“People who behave like this could end up in a police cell.
“Today and also early this weekend there will be an obvious police presence in the city.”
An Essex Police spokesman added: “As part of our response to the possibility that a large group of people could travel into the city, an eviction order is now in place in Southend town centre.”
“We are aware of an event due to take place in Southend today.
“The order does not mean that there is a blanket ban on people entering Southend.
“It gives officers the power to order people suspected of anti-social behavior to leave the area. And if they don’t, they could be arrested.”
It came after police officers arrested nine people and issued eviction orders to 34 others after scuffles broke out on London’s Oxford Street.
Shoppers had been warned to avoid busy central London after videos on TikTok advertised a major shoplifting.
The clips encouraged youths to wear balaclavas to “rob JD Sports.”
A Met Police spokesman said: “Four people have been arrested on suspicion of violating the eviction order.
“One person has been arrested on suspicion of being equipped to steal.
“One person has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and one person has been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.”
Now Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said those behind the chaos must be jailed.
Taking to Twitter, she said: “We cannot allow the kind of lawlessness that is being seen in some American cities to find its way onto the streets of Britain.”
“The police have my full support and are doing whatever is necessary to ensure public order.
“Those responsible must be hunted down and imprisoned. I expect nothing less from the Metropolitan Police and have requested a full incident report.”
Video shows two men being arrested by police officers, with one of the men thrown to the ground in front of shocked shoppers.
The two young men were confronted by officers near a store rumored to have been the target of a disruption organized by TikTok.
One of the men wore a green hoodie and the other a gray tracksuit.
Nearby shops, including an optician and a pharmacy, briefly closed their shutters just after 3pm and crowds gathered on the busy street to watch the scene.
Traffic also came to a temporary standstill and four mounted police officers, together with security forces, tried to disperse the onlookers.
3