A new group is being set up to reduce violent crime in Southend.

Members of the public are being asked to volunteer to support the police led group after hundreds attended a public meeting and a peace march.

Chief Insp Neil Pudney, district commander for Southend, said: “I understand people are worried but I want to assure them we are listening to their concerns and I am committed to doing everything I can to help people feel safe in our town.

“Knife crime is a national issue and sadly we are no exception in feeling its effects here.

“Here in Southend we tackle knife crime every day, as well as the issues of anti-social behaviour and drugs that are often associated with it.

“The fight against knife crime is a long term challenge and is one that we can only successfully tackle as a community, using enforcement, preventative measures and education.

“Residents came to the meeting with some great ideas on how to address some of the root issues and I will be looking to set up a working group with them so we can progress these further, along with our partners within the council and community.

“I am also keen to hear from anyone who was not able to come to the meeting but wishes to contribute to the group.”

Before the meeting, councillor Mark Flewitt also echoed the importance of a community approach to tackling violent crime.

“We are ideally looking for a minimum ten people to step forward and work with us to help reduce violent crime on our streets,” he said.

“As a council we are determined to tackle this problem, and we really believe that preventative strategies like a mentoring scheme and outreach programmes are absolutely fundamental.

“To stop violent, particularly knife-related crime growing, we need to stop young men believing that carrying a knife is the way forward in the first place.”

So far, four men from across the borough have been charged with murder and attempted robbery in connection with the fatal stabbing of Fabian Kacica, 19, on Monday, May 14.

Following the murder a Section 60 order was temporarily enforced between 7pm on Tuesday, May 15 and 7am on Wednesday, May 16, and again between 8pm on Wednesday, May 16 and 3am on Thursday, May 17 in Southend High Street.

In total, there were nine stop and searches carried out between those hours, with no weapons found.

A meeting, chaired by councillors and senior police officers, was held at noon on Saturday at The Forum, in Southend town centre.