Boy, 15, is charged after two teenagers stabbed in huge seaside resort brawl between 30 youths - as girl, 12, is arrested for assault

Published: 13:53, 3 May 2026 | Updated: 13:56, 3 May 2026 A 15-year-old boy has been charged after two teenagers suffered knife wounds to the face during an alleged brawl involving 30 young people in Southend on Friday. Officers were called to the seaside city's High Street at around 7.50pm after reports of a 'large-scale fight'. The boy, from north London, was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of a class B drug. He is set to appear at Basildon Magistrates' Court on June 22 - he cannot be named for legal reasons. A 12-year-old girl from Southend was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and violent disorder. She was released on bail as officers continued to investigate. Essex Police said residents would see officers around the city over the bank holiday weekend. The force added a dispersal order was in place until 8pm on Sunday covering a 'vast' area including Southend High Street, Queensway through to Hamlet Court Road and the seafront. Essex Police said it would use live facial recognition technology in Southend on Sunday, which tracks the faces of passers-by. Pictured: An Essex Police facial recognition van tracked the public on Southend High Street in December 2024 The force said a dispersal order would apply to a 'vast' area of the city for much of Sunday Dispersal orders, also known as Section 35 notices, allow police to disperse people to 'prevent harassment, alarm, distress or crime'. A further order allowing officers to search people or vehicles for weapons without suspicion is also in place until 8.45pm on Sunday. Police said live facial recognition cameras would also be used in Southend on Sunday. The two teenagers who suffered non-life-threatening knife wounds to their faces were sent to hospital on Friday evening. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.