Police Stay on Party Alert

By HANNAH TAYLOR

Police were today taking no chances as they went ahead with an emergency action plan to tackle a feared invasion of beach party lovers.

Organisers of the event – posted on the Facebook website – officially cancelled the party on Wednesday night.

But it is feared some will still decide to party in the Bay over the weekend.

Torbay police commander Supt Chris Singer told a press briefing yesterday: “We are going to stop any party from happening.

“It is important we realise the scale of this. This is no normal beach party.

“You have just got to think of the recent house party in Bovey Tracey or when Fat Boy Slim played at Brighton beach and a woman lost her life. If people get together on this sort of scale there are dangers involved”

Police have launched Operation Zola which will include:

An extra 80 officers being drafted in.

Every beach in the Bay being patrolled by officers.

Road check points.

Dog handler teams on standby.

Police spotters at railway stations.

Officers in neighbouring Teignbridge and South Hams put on the alert.

Dispersal orders at hand to keep would-be party goers out of the Bay for 48 hours.

Coastguard crews and extra ambulance staff on standby.

Back-up custody van.

Early signs last night were that torrential rain, the high police presence, the ‘cancellation’ of the event and preventative measures could lead to a quiet weekend.

The party was advertised on social networking site Facebook since May 22.

On Wednesday, organisers pulled the plug on the event which was expected to attract more than 10,000 people.

An alternative site was set up with dedicated partygoers trying to agree on a beach to party at.

At yesterday’s briefing police said hotspot beaches were Broadsands, Goodrington and Torre Abbey.

Police started patrolling all beaches in the Bay from early evening and spotters were been deployed at Aller layby to catch would-be revellers as they entered the Bay.

Busy trains into the Bay were met by officers at Torquay and Paignton railway stations.

Speaking at yesterday’s briefing, Operations Inspector, Glen Mayhew said: “British Transport Police have told us there has been an increase in train ticket sales coming into Torquay.

“We do have to take into account these could be the usual tourist traffic coming into the Bay, which of course is to be encouraged.”

He told officers intelligence about the event had been ‘patchy’ and relied on internet sources.

He asked that officers were ‘fair, firm and friendly’ to keep revellers on side.

“The people who are going to these events are useful for our intelligence,” he said.

Dispersal orders were also being kept as a tool to break up any potential trouble.

Coastguards and ambulance crews were also planned as part of any large scale response, as well as Torbay Council and the fire service.

South Western Ambulance Trust response officer, Chris Coles said: “Our main concern is when people start taking alcohol and start doing stupid things, particularly near water.

“We have extra staff which will be able to respond if they need to,” he said.

Phase one of the campaign had included preventative measures including asking licensees to be on their guard and warnings going out to parents.

Early signs last night is the preventative measures had worked.

An eyewitness reported last night said: “There are police units parked all over the mains roads in Torquay and Paignton. I’ve never seen so many officers.”

Herald Express website was inundated with readers commenting on the Facebook party.

Online readers were keen for an organised and licensed beach party to be arranged in the future.

Nikki from Paignton said: “I’m up for helping if we can set up a group and get help from the council about procedures.

“I’m 21, lived in the Bay all my life and what people are saying is true – the reason us ‘youngens’ all go out and get ‘mullered’ on a Friday and Saturday night in Torquay is because there is nothing else for us to do safely.

“I have been to several beach parties which, albeit not on such a large scale, and we have never had any trouble.

“Beach parties would entertain us and possibly bring a bit more tourism down to the Bay. We are a tourist place after all.

Hannah in Brixham added: “I’m annoyed. Not all young people are the same, so stop stereotyping.”

Alex in Torquay said: “I’d be totally for this kind of festival. It’s about time the Bay did something to liven itself up for the 16- 25 crowd.

“People blame them for getting trashed at the weekends in our various clubs and bars, but what else is there for them to do in the Bay?

“Alerting such a need in the town might be at least one good thing to come out of this craziness. Lets Bring On T in TQ.”

(c) 2008 Herald Express (Torquay UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.