That doesn't sound like you're being very fair at all - have you ever been to Essex? In what way is the stereotypical chav (unwashed, unworking, uneducated and theiving) related to that of the typical Essex boy (escort driving, gold chain wearing thug)?
Oh and FYI birds of a feather wasn't real - and the image it created of the stereotypical Essex girl / boy was a myth - until that is, the constant dragging of Essex's reputation through the sh*t gave the unworking masses living in London's overspill an excuse to act like it.
Blaming Essex for the rest of the country's chav population is weapons grade bollox - are you honestly saying that the gangs of chavs around the likes of stoke on trent are due to Essex in the 80's more than the downfall of industry?