Only just saw this post as I've not logged in for a while.
I'm a fairly regular visitor to the Southend RLD and the new ANPR cameras are apparently have been up and running for over a year now, but I've not received any warnings through the post despite driving around the area quite a lot. Police activity varies, but usually there will be marked and unmarked cars in the area, mostly later in the night after about 11PM.
The bigger problem is the CCTV and ring doorbells that some residents are recording on, reviewing the footage and then posting car make, model, colour and registration on a few well known facebook groups. That's probably not so much of a problem though if you don't live in Southend or have family here.
A resident has a camera on the corner of Ambleside Drive and Honiton Road which he/she uses to record punters picking up girls.
The best thing (as always) is to just use common sense. If a girl catches your eye, just pull into one of the roads that branch off Ambleside. If she's looking for work she'll walk to you. On occasion I've driven with the window down and said a road name to the girl as I drove past and then waited for her to meet me there.
Also just be aware, there aren't nearly as many WG's as there used to be down there anymore.
