POLICE have issued a statement after Southend seafront was overwhelmed yesterday as visitors, primarily from London, travelled to enjoy the Bank Holiday warm weather.

As a result of the behaviour, calls have been made to take a more "robust" approach to enforcing the lockdown rules.

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Essex Police's Southend Policing Team have now issued a statement on how they dealt with the problems yesterday. 

It said: "We have been on patrol throughout the bank holiday weekend and working with Southend Borough Council to engage with members of the public to ensure they are following government regulations, which are in place to keep us all safe.

"In Southend yesterday the majority of people were complying with government regulations allowing them to exercise outside.

"But where people were breaching the regulations, the vast majority did move on when we spoke to them.

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"There were only a very small number of occasions yesterday where we had to use enforcement powers."

The team added: "We police by consent and we always have done. The national guidance for us is very clear that enforcement is the last resort. Most of the time we just need to talk to people to see the error of their ways."

It comes as PM Boris Johnson is set to announce a change to the restrictions currently in place tonight. 

He will speak to the nation at 7pm. 

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The policing yeam added: "We thank everyone of you who has been staying at home.

"We know it’s not easy but most people want to do the right thing, protect the NHS and ultimately save lives.

"We will continue to be out and about engaging with members of the public and ensuring everyone is staying safe."