County-wide dispersal order now in place

UPDATE: 5.10PM (24 August)

Earlier today we authorised a county-wide dispersal order under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act.

It gives officers powers to exclude a person from an area for up to 48 hours and in this instance, covered people who had left an illegal encampment in Boston this morning.

The order was issued when those people arrived in Skegness.

We now believe the majority of those people have left the county, but we will continue to monitor the situation.

Our investigations continue.

 

ORIGINAL RELEASE: We have authorised a county-wide dispersal order covering the people from the illegal encampment in Boston to leave Lincolnshire.

The order, which has been issued under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, gives the force powers to exclude a person from an area for up to 48 hours.

It has been issued after those present at an illegal encampment at Boston’s Tunnard Street were seen travelling to the Skegness area.

They moved on this morning after being served an enforcement notice by Lincolnshire Police yesterday, Wednesday, 23 August.

Additional patrols were carried out in the town to ensure the public’s safety following reports of anti-social behaviour on Tuesday.

We would like to reassure our communities in Skegness that we are working with our partners to monitor the situation and keep people safe.

Superintendent Pat Coates said: “This is a fast-moving operation, and we are doing everything we can to reduce disruption to local residents and businesses.

“We are utilising the powers we have available to us and have deployed a number of officers to the town.

“We understand people will be concerned but we are working with our partners to resolve this issue as quickly and safely as possible.”

We will provide more information when we can.