Police have issued a 48-hour dispersal order to prevent any further
anti-social behaviour and disorder in Newhaven town centre following
reports of youths fighting with weapons on Tuesday afternoon (3
September).
Officers arrived in the High Street and identified two victims – a
19-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl from Newhaven – who had sought
refuge at a local pub.
The girl, who is pregnant, reported being struck in the stomach with a
hammer, however she managed to protect herself with her hand.
Both victims were taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for treatment and were later discharged.
Weapons including a hammer are reported to have been used, and a number
of youths are believed to have been involved in the incident. A 24-hour
dispersal order was placed on the area on Tuesday evening.
Under the order, also known as section 35 order, police officers and
PCSOs can tell individuals or groups, who are causing significant and
persistent anti-social behaviour to leave the area and not return for up
to 24 hours. The new order will run from 6pm on Wednesday (4 September)
to 6pm on Friday (6 September).
Officers are carrying out high visibility patrols in the town to enforce the order.
Inspector Rachel Barrow said: “We received a number of reports of
disorder concerning youths in Newhaven on Tuesday evening. To curb this
behaviour a 49-hour dispersal order is now in place and high visibility
patrols will be conducted.”
Enquiries are ongoing into the reports of disorder and anyone who saw what happened is asked to report online or call 101 quoting serial 960 of 03/09.
No arrests have been made at this stage.
Police and council action to move travellers from Seaford
Police directed a group of travellers and their vehicles who moved onto
Martello Fields, Seaford, to leave the site using powers under S61 of
the Police and Criminal Justice Act on Tuesday 3 September.
The group arrived in Seaford after moving on from Hove Lawns on (Monday 2 September).
The police carried out an assessment of the site with Seaford Town
Council, who own the land and made welfare checks on the occupants of
the vehicles, as is required by Home Office guidance before enforcement
action can be taken.
Chief Inspector Anita Turner: “We have worked with the local council to
resolve this as swiftly as possible. We understand there are concerns in
the local community but there is a process which has to be followed by
law.”