Seaside town descends into chaos as TikTok troublemakers gather to 'cause trouble' after 'looting' Oxford Street | The Sun

A SEASIDE town has descended into chaos as TikTok troublemakers gather to "cause trouble" after "looting" Oxford Street.

Yobs are reportedly planning to "get lit" on the beach in Southend, Essex today.


A dispersal order giving cops the power to kick troublemakers out of the city centre is now in place.

Chief Superintendent Waheed Khan said: "I want to be really clear that we want people to come to Southend – but we won’t tolerate crime and anti-social behaviour.

"We have a significant policing presence in the city today. That includes the city centre, across the seafront and close to the train stations.

He added: "The dispersal order is by no means a blanket ban on people coming to Southend and enjoying all it has to offer.

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"But if people come here and behave antisocially or commit crime, the reality is we’re going to take a robust approach to that.

"People acting that way could ultimately end up in a police cell.

"Throughout today, and indeed as we enter this weekend, there will be an obvious police presence in the city."

An Essex Police spokesperson added: "A dispersal order is now in place in Southend city centre as part of our response to the possibility of a large group of people travelling to the city.

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"We’re aware of an event which is planned to take place today in Southend.

"The order does not mean there is a blanket ban on people coming to Southend.

"It gives officers the power to direct people suspected of acting anti-socially to leave the area. And if they don’t, they could be arrested."

It comes after cops arrested nine people and slapped 34 others with dispersal orders after brawls broke out on London's Oxford Street.

Shoppers had been warned to avoid the busy central London hub after videos on TikTok promoted a large shoplifting operation.

The clips encouraged teens to wear balaclavas in a bid to "rob JD Sports".

A Met Police spokesperson said: "Four people were arrested on suspicion of breaching the dispersal order.

"One person was arrested on suspicion of going equipped to steal.

"One person arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and one person was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence."

Now Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said the yobs behind the chaos must be jailed.

Taking to Twitter, she said: "We cannot allow the kind of lawlessness seen in some American cities to come to the streets of the UK.

"The police have my full backing to do whatever necessary to ensure public order.

"Those responsible must be hunted down & locked up. I expect nothing less from the Metropolitan Police and have requested a full incident report."

It comes as video shows two males being detained by police officers, with one of the individuals slammed to the floor in front of shocked shoppers.

The two young men were confronted by officers close to a shop rumoured to be the target of TikTok-organised disorder.

One of the men was wearing a green hoodie and the other a grey tracksuit.

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Nearby shops including an optician and pharmacy closed their shutters briefly shortly after 3pm and crowds gathered on the busy street to watch the scene.

Traffic was also temporarily brought to a halt and four mounted police officers, alongside security personnel, tried to disperse onlookers.


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