I wholeheartedly support councillor Porter’s warnings about beach safety on Tendring’s coastline and the fact that the cocktail of alcohol, breakwaters and the sea can so often lead to tragedy.

So imagine my bemusement when last Sunday I witnessed all of the above and more carrying on under the noses of those tasked with preventing just such a tragedy.

Whilst out for a walk on Clacton seafront, the Beach Patrol Team were on the beach (second from the pier towards Jaywick) with colleagues from the police with their Land Rover and Rib readying for a busy day.

On our return we could see a large group of daytrippers had pitched up with two large gazebos.

The sound of reggae boomed out and the smell of Caribbean food was only suppressed by the pungent waft of cannabis.

As we came closer the sight of around a dozen individuals (mostly kids) swimming next to the groyne in a choppy sea, several adults smoking conspicuously large joints, and the police and Beach Patrol Team sharing the same beach without any interventions was somewhat surprising.

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The party atmosphere was terrific, but we all know how quickly this can turn to tragedy.

Walk a dog on a dog-banned beach, or ride your horse on the sand and they are after you.

Ignore the signs to stay of the rocks, don’t swim near the groynes, don’t drop litter or even smoke a huge joint in full view of the police and it’s fine.

Whilst police officers turn a blind eye to enormous joints, and people with little knowledge of the dangers of rip tides aside groynes aren’t politely and vigorously advised to move away, I fear councillor Porter’s warning will fail to save another tragic loss of life.

Warnings are fine but addressing priorities in enforcement could save a life.

P Halliday

Gorse Lane, Clacton