Police deploy face tech in response to beach party

Adverts for an unofficial beach party on social media have prompted the police to deploy live facial recognition technology.

"Significant numbers of young people" are expected to travel to Southend-on-Sea on Tuesday and gather by the seafront, Essex Police said.

Flyers promoting the event online encouraged attendees to bring their own drinks and indicated that drugs could be available.

A police spokesman said: "Anyone coming here intending to commit crime will be dealt with swiftly and robustly."

It followed a busy Bank Holiday weekend when thousands of people visited the seaside city in Essex.

The beach party has been advertised online as both the "Southend Takedown" and the "32C Southend Beach Step".

Nitrous oxide and marijuana were also promoted as potentially available, although one flyer told people to create "no problems".

Police are expected to have a highly visible presence at the city's railway stations, seafront and High Street throughout the day.

They have been granted enhanced stop and search powers and may use dispersal orders to break up groups.

"We expect the vast majority of people to enjoy the seafront responsibly," the spokesman said.

"However, those who do not should expect to be identified, stopped and, where appropriate, arrested."

Ten people were sentenced in 2025 after a similar "beach rave" led to violence erupting between "two rival gangs" on the seafront the year before.

The defendants, aged between 15 and 19, were given prison terms of up to eight years at Basildon Crown Court.

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