Police pledge to stay tough on anti-social behaviour

There is still more work to do to tackle anti-social behaviour in a seaside area despite a large decrease in problem behaviour, a police force has said.

In the last two years, incidents have fallen by almost half in Tendring, which includes Clacton-on-Sea, according to Essex Police.

Its officers, working with the district council's anti-social behaviour patrol officers and Tendring Community Safety Partnership, have seen a 47% drop between July 2023 and July 2024.

There were also 1,043 fewer offences compared with the period between July 2021 and July 2022.

Tendring district commander Ch Insp Ella Latham said: "We know there is still more to be done.

"We'll carry on working with partner agencies to tackle the causes of persistent offending and get people the help and support they need to change and get their lives back on track.

"I know residents are particularly concerned about anti-social behaviour during the summer when hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the Essex Sunshine Coast to enjoy its many attractions, including the annual Clacton Airshow."

High-visibility patrols and plain-clothed offices are in Clacton town centre and surrounding areas, such as Harwich. They will also be about during the airshow on 22 and 23 August.

A public spaces protection order remains in place in Clacton to tackle street drinking and begging, and police said they would continue to focus on reports of motorbikes being ridden illegally and damage being caused to beach huts.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.