Marshal patrols deter anti-social behaviour

Concerns about anti-social behaviour in coastal towns have prompted local councils to pay security firms to patrol the streets and beaches.

The Looe Business Forum, which has 40 member businesses, and the town council have spent £14,500 on town marshals, who work from 10:00 BST to 19:00 in the summer school holidays.

Saltash Town Council has paid £6,000 for the patrols along the waterside for a trial period but between 14:00 and 22:00.

The chairman of Looe Business Forum Peter Friend said: "The police numbers have been cut and we used to have a police station in Looe that was manned... we're not trying to take the power and the presence of the police away but we're trying to augment that."

Tina Riach, who owns a shop in Looe, said: "They're very friendly, they're very professional, they've got the radio, so I feel a lot safer.

"The anti-social behaviour has gone down, the shoplifting has gone down.

"They're a credit to the town and so very important for all of us shopkeepers, especially if you're on your own or you feel a little bit vulnerable. I can't praise them enough."

Town marshal Charley Tasker said: "Where we thought we would be here for any anti-social behaviour, it has just gone from literally mobile phones being lost to children being lost, to obviously bigger situations as well."

One marshal pulled a child out of the sea who had got into difficulty.

Mayor of Looe Stephen Remington said: "This is a very safe place to visit and all we've tried to do is to make it that much safer and more pleasant, with the reassurance that the marshals, without doubt, present."

Mayor of Saltash Brian Stoyel said: "There has been a little bit of anti-social behaviour, like people jumping off the platoons and the jetty.

"We're worried about their health really because who knows what is under the water.

"They're not going to arrest people. They're not there for arresting, they're there for advising people [and asking] 'is this the right way to behave?'

"We are acting proactively just in case it was to become a problem.

"We are nipping it in the bud, so to speak."

Resident Rob Jones said there was anti-social behaviour in the town: "We tend to have 20 to 30 youths coming down here.

"Many are wonderful, but we have the odd group that come down here with foul language. "They scream at each other, but it's a bit difficult living here and you've got to put up with all that noise.

"It's nice to know something its happening."

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