Don’t miss out!
Get all the most important news and events to your inbox.
Police in Lichfield have put a dispersal order in place after reports of anti-social behaviour at Beacon Park.
Visitors have reported large gatherings since coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased, while piles of litter have also been left behind.
Staffordshire Police said the order would remain in place until the end of Wednesday (3rd June).
“Youths have been gathering in large groups and not following the recent Government guidelines.
“They have been meeting with more than six people from more than two households and they have not been social distancing from each other while consuming alcohol.
“Once they have finished they have left a huge mess behind them resulting in park rangers having to clear it up the following morning.
“This behaviour has resulted in a number of calls from the public, making us aware of their frustrations and the things they have been witnessing while trying to enjoy their time outdoors with their families and friends while sticking to the Government guidelines.”
Staffordshire Police spokesperson
The dispersal order gives officers the power to force groups to leave the area, and arrest those that refuse and remain in place or who come back after being told to leave.
“While the legislation around COVID-19 has been relaxed, we still have the responsibility to social distance and behave appropriately in open spaces.
“Please do the right thing and consider your actions while being respectful to not only the public around you, but also to the key workers who are trying their best to help protect you and keep you safe during this pandemic.”
Staffordshire Police spokesperson
More teenage scum
Maybe we should send Harry out in the evening to spread his own special brand of cheery love for his neighbours?
About time the youth are a disgrace!!!
Yep, the future is strong in Harry’s hands. Despicable comment.
This sets a precedent. Reading between the lines it seems the real issue is the litter they are leaving behind, so let’s hope all groups are encouraged to behave responsibly and take their rubbish home or put it in a bin.
What an embarrassing state of affairs we have to do that in the first place.
Seems to me the youth have suffered significantly with loss of schooling, job prospects and any small income they may have been getting. Social isolation is also particularly difficult for that age group. Perhaps they could join the new drinking set up proposed for the market square. Otherwise, council them on cleaning up their rubbish but leave them in the park. I think we should be cutting them some slack.
Philip it is not only youth it is the public in general come and take a walk in the country side look at the dumped rubbish on one of my regular walks a pile of fag ends probably from a car, fly tipped tiles and nitrous oxide containers all yesterday over a distance of half mile
It’s that rare occasion where Philip and I agree.
Are there enough bins? From experience I don’t think so, but it’s been a while since I’ve been there.
This now academic as the police have put in their dispersal order, designed to stop anti-social behaviour, not deal with Covid rule gatherings, so now we’ll see these youngster criminalised if they defy the rules.
I feel slightly uneasy at the civil liberty aspect of this decision.
We’re all in this together.
Be kind.
Stay Home. Save Lives
Stay Alert.
Its all meaningless drivel. Society isn’t and won’t be changing for the better.
Some people will remain selfish and blinkered.
Some will still be happy blaming “the youth”.
Political tribes will still point the finger and apportion blame whilst remaining ineffectual and just as blinkered as the selfish.
Senior politicians and advisers will continue to do whatever they want that suits their own particular needs without fear of reprisals at the ballot box or getting a well-deserved and long overdue boot out of the door.
This proud nation has been on its arse for far too long and we are all to blame for allowing it to descend into the farce we currently have to endure.
Nothing changes. Nothing will ever change.
Unless we start making the change ourselves.
The youth have suffered during this crisis but they cant just go out and start mixing in large groups and causing so much disruption, however they are certainly not scum.
Both Philip and Darryl, yes the youth have had a large part of life disrupted…but so have many other age groups. I feel you are making excuses for the youth’s in question…other young people don’t feel the need to be so selfish and ‘child like’.
Picking up litter and social distancing is something we All should be doing.
James the UK is a dirty country,I can remember as a child in the 1950’s going to France with my parents and seeing road sides carpeted with bottles. They cleaned their act up and now you know when you are back in the UK by the mess. Near Lichfield look at the junction of AT and A38 at wall island it is a disgrace
Their behaviour’s a reflection of their parents’ capabilities and performance.
Let’s face nobody’s asking an awful lot of the youth of today nobody’s persecuting the poor souls I hope they enjoy themselves I hope they have a drink I respect their need to let off steam ok fine, but I suppose in their weird world it ain’t cool to pick up their trash it’s cool to leave as much as you can for somebody else to clear up but any kid with half a brain just might realize it ain’t cool to trash the planet
Poor young things!
This has been equally hard on every single one of us, no matter how old.
But some of us – mainly older people it has to be said – still know how to live in a civilised society though.
I tend to agree with Rob. If there is a problem with younger people, then surely that problem starts and finishes with the way they were raised?
Mike, completely agree, when you go to France – it’s astonishing how pristine they keep the place.
Rob, talking guff as usual.
Darryl, thinks only he’s ever right, as usual.
I think the only solution is for parks staff to do regular litter picks over the course of the day. I know this is basically taking the responsibility away from the perpetrators but can anyone see litter-droppers changing their ways?
I think our youth have a tough existence compaired to former generations. Little is offered in Lichfield for their recreation. There are few jobs and very questionable apprenticeships in areas that are really cheap labour. Likewise with zero hours contracts.
Those who opt for university education take on lifetime debts, and again some degrees offer little education at high price.
The economic fall out from this epidemic will probably result in many redundancies and a depressed job market.
What exactly is on offer for this generation? The window of opportunity is very narrow at that time of life. If society has nothing to offer them then how should they behave?
There is a much broader picture here. Patronising our youth does not help. Nor treating them like cattle. They do deserve a stake in society, as did we in our youth.
How police can tell people not to go anywhere when there is NO Law to stop us going anywhere.
Guidelines is guidance and nothing else.
I’ll repeat, there is NO LAW for what police are doing.
We got rights people, use them.
No excuse for leaving rubbish though, but they cannot stop us going anywhere.
I haven’t been anywhere near Beacon Park over the weekend so can’t comment on the grouping, the ages, or anything else other than take things as read from the photo. What I will bet though is that these are the same people who:
Would be in Beacon Park whether lockdown relaxation was 01/06/20, 01/06/25 or not at all.
If there was a rumour the virus was creating a Marmite shortage would empty supermarket shelves whether they loved or hated it.
Will get a MacDonalds from the Bassetts Pole drive through and hurl the empties from the car window on the journey back (I’ve witnessed this).
If you catch one feeding on a train they will have their shoe clad feet on the seats in front and leave their rubbish and sometimes uneaten food on the seat next to them when they disembark.
Nobody knows who these people are and nobody will admit to being one of them, but they are out there. Take a look at the state of the Dorset beaches after the weekend, some of the items the volunteer cleaners had to pick up and the abuse they received if they asked them to take their litter back home. I won’t mention what people buried in the sand, you can probably guess.
I have no answer, if I was to state what I’d do to them the moderator wouldn’t publish it.
The litter is vile, there are loads of bins in the park and huge credit to the parks team who clear up tirelessly, the park is always spotless early next morning, thank you to you all. It’s not just about the mess though….have people forgotten the small matter of the virus that’s still very much with us?! Nice gift to take back to your families or spread round the shops after you’ve partied the night away, people. Cheers for that. We could all find ourselves being locked down once more because of such stupid behaviour. Nice one, well done.
Harry , did it take you long to come up with that ? . However no excuse for trashing a beautiful park . Come on youth , Have a laugh but look after the few fantastic facilities you have .
Right people will not listen they are board hey have nothing to do day in day out even 2 metres apart you can still get this virus.
How the the hell can you fight a invisible enemy which is airborne any way so matter what you do or where you go every body got a 100 per cent chance of getting this virus. But people who break the rules means more lock down so come on every body obey the rules and you don’t now we be spending a Xmas with your family. If not we’ll?
It will be a long fight .
Mike you’re right, rubbish everywhere. Remember thatcher appointed Richard Branson as clean up tsar to abolish litter. Still waiting, while he suns himself on necker.