A NEW team has been launched to help tackle the increase in violence in Southend’s town centre following last week’s murder.

Southend’s policing team will be dedicating two officers to the town centre as part of the new Operation Reflex which will target violent crime in the town.

PC Marc Cann and PC Cameron Haggie will work with rangers from the Business Improvement District to provide a visible presence to the public.

Temp Insp Ian Hughes, of Southend Police, said: “Op Reflex is the overarching name to identify police and Community Safety Partnership activity within the town centre.

“The pair will be focusing on the increase in violence and vulnerability in the heart of the borough.

“They will work with partners to put in place short, medium and long term plans.

“The officers are prioritising on increased visibility at locations which have been identified by the public through community meetings and social media.

“They will not be dealing with shoplifting offences, but I am sure their mere presence will give a positive effect on reducing reported offences.

“Yesterday we held the first of a monthly partnership meeting which will focus solely on challenges the town centre faces. This group will work in partnership to make best use of resources, looking at prevention, intervention and enforcement.”

The move comes after a spate of violent crime in Southend which culminated in a fatal stabbing outside the Forum library last Monday evening.

Retail worker Fabian Kacica, 19, died from a stab wound to the chest after a disturbance broke out sparking an outpouring of community concern for public safety.

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. Since then, there have been two high-profile peace marches through the town as well as a public meeting chaired by senior police officers and leading councillors.

Four men will appear in court next month charged with Fabian Kacica’s murder.