A 19-year-old man has become the sixth victim in four years at a multi-storey car park which is known as a notorious suicide blackspot.
Notorious suicide spot - the Victoria Plaza car park Picture: MAXINE CLARKE
Police are treating the death at the Victoria Plaza car park, in Chichester Road, Southend as suicide, although it was initially believed that the latest victim may have been killed by a hit-and-run driver.
From the seriousness of his injuries they are now almost certain he fell from the car park. The man has not yet been named, but is from the Southend area.
Southend police are planning talks with the owners to see if further work can be carried out to prevent more tragedies.
Inspector Richard Thomas said: "A number of people have used the car park to commit suicide.
"We will be contacting the owners to work with them to see if we can tighten up their security arrangements."
Richard Long, centre manager of Victoria Plaza, said: "It is a tragic waste of life and I am totally devastated by this."
Councillors for Milton ward, which covers the Victoria Plaza area, said more measures should be taken to deter suicides at the centre.
Published Thursday, April 24, 2003
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