A police chief today vowed to make Southend safer following three horrendous crimes in the town.
Chief Supt Mick Thwaites was speaking out after an Asian man had his throat slashed in a vicious attack over the weekend.
In another incident a woman was threatened by a robber armed with a screwdriver in the town's Stanley Road, but managed to scare him off by screaming.
And in a third attack a man was punched in the face by robbers in front of his wife after he gave them £10.
The couple were walking along Grainger Road in Southend, when they were approached by three men who demanded cash and then asked for more, punching the man in the mouth.
Afterwards the victim handed over £100.
Mr Thwaites said: "These last three incidents, especially the racist attack, are totally unacceptable and we are working to make Southend a safe place people want to come to."
Published Tuesday, June 10, 2003
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