c2c welcomes sentencing following Southend seafront disorder

LOCAL rail operator c2c Railway has welcomed the recent sentencing of ten individuals involved in the violent disorder that took place on Southend seafront in July 2024.

The individuals, all teenagers at the time of the events, were sentenced at Basildon Crown Court to more than 34 years in custody between them.

The incident, which saw groups of young people gather in the streets of Southend before violence broke out, prompted a swift and coordinated response from Essex Police, in partnership with the railway through co-ordinated efforts between c2c, Greater Anglia and the British Transport Police (BTP).

Several individuals were left seriously injured and the incident led to a major investigation involving extensive CCTV analysis. c2c worked closely with Essex Police and the British Transport Police both during and after the investigation to ensure the perpetrators were brought to justice.

Iain Palmer, Head of Revenue Protection and Security at c2c, said: “I am extremely pleased to see that those responsible for these awful crimes have been subject to robust sentences. We will continue working collaboratively with the police especially as we move through this summer, with customer safety across the network of the utmost importance.

“Our plans for continued collaboration with BTP and Essex Police, under Operation Imperial and Operation Union, respectively, have been reviewed to ensure we do as much as possible to prevent any incidents occurring and respond to those that do,” he added.

Councillor Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: “Following the disorder, I said there was no place for violence in Southend, and I stand by that. This result shows what can be achieved when we work together to protect our city.

“We’ll keep doing everything we can to make sure Southend remains a safe, welcoming place for everyone who lives, works and visits here.”

As a community railway, c2c is committed to reducing violence in our local areas, and through close collaboration with policing bodies such as the British Transport Police and Essex Police, c2c always seeks to prosecute violent crime and works with the police to assist with any investigations.

As well as a commitment to safety, c2c was recently been recognised for its continued commitment to safeguarding, scoring 92% in its recent Safeguarding on Rail Scheme re-accreditation.