THUGS and drunks have been told they are not welcome in Clacton after the return of pre-pandemic trouble to the resort’s streets.

Clacton Police said they are working with Tendring Council in a bid to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

Chief Insp Martin Richards, district commander, said the joint approach allows the police to focus on tackle crime while the council focuses on anti-social behaviour and social problems.

He said: “A lot of the problems disappeared during the pandemic but are now returning.

“We are working closely with the council to deal with them.

“We want to make Clacton a town where criminals and poorly-behaved people know they are not welcome and that we will take robust steps to deal with them.

“Police will lead on violent crimes including robbery, drug dealing, possession of knives, shoplifting, criminal damage, theft and commercial burglaries.

“Tendring Council will provide us with information where they can, including body-worn video footage from their staff.”

A public spaces protection order (PSPO) has been in place for a couple of years and was extended earlier this year.

The orders are intended to deal with nuisance or problems in an area that cause harm to the local community.

Lynda McWilliams, cabinet member for partnerships, said the council will deal more with anti-social behaviour such as littering, begging and street-drinking.

Both police and council staff will take drink off people behaving poorly and move them on.

And if they return, they will be issued with a community protection warning and then a community protection notice.

If the behaviour persists, then people will be taken to court and applications made for criminal behaviour orders or civil injunctions.

Mrs McWilliams said: “Clacton, and indeed Tendring, is by and large a very safe place to be - if you are not involved in criminality then you have nothing to fear.

“But if you are intent on disrupting our peaceful community, then the police – backed by us where we can support them – will be on to you.

“We will not tolerate crime on our streets.”

Mr Richards said that, where appropriate, vulnerable people will be pointed towards agencies which deal with issues such as alcohol and drug abuse.

He added that over the summer, officers conducted daytime street sweeps in the town centre and along the seafront, looking for knives and drugs hidden by members of drugs gangs.

Mr Richards added: “Often violence in the town centre at night is alcohol-fuelled and committed by people on holiday so warning people and banning them is not going to work.

“It’s about providing a visible policing presence, using the PSPO to move people out and being robust with individuals who are displaying drunken and violent behaviour. If necessary, we will arrest them for being drunk and disorderly or for public order offences.”

Essex Police said over the next few weekends they will be supported by volunteers from the UTurn project, the SOS Bus and Street Pastors.