Police to crack down on anti-social behaviour in Honiton

Midweek Herald: New PCSO Steve Mingo who joins the neighbourhood policing team in Honiton.New PCSO Steve Mingo who joins the neighbourhood policing team in Honiton. (Image: Archant)

Football fans will have to be on their best behaviour this and next month after Honiton’s neigbourhood beat team confirmed it will step up its evening patrols.

Police officers will be taking to the streets to put a stop to any unruly behaviour while Euro 2016 competition runs its course.

The competition, which kicked off last Friday (June 10), finishes on Sunday, July 10.

And with the Olympics also taking place this year, Honiton PCSO Steve Mingo is warning that police officers will act to ‘deter and deal with’ anti-social behaviour in Honiton.

He said: “During the Euro 2016 tournament, emotions run high, and frustration and competitiveness can cause tempers to flare.

“Coupled with the consumption of alcohol, there is always a potential for rowdy or anti-social behaviour. We will have a presence in the town late into the evening to deter and deal with any incidents of this kind of behaviour.

“There will be an increased police presence in Honiton late into the evenings.

“This will be particularly when football matches are being shown in local pubs.

“Devon and Cornwall Police will also be running a drink driving campaign this summer, drivers can expect to be tested if they are involved in a collision or if stopped for an offence.

“Routine stop checks will also result in drivers being tested.

“Our advice throughout the competition is this: ‘Have fun, enjoy the football, but don’t end up with a red card. Please drink responsibly.”

Mr Mingo said that the policing team is also looking to crack down on antisocial driving, but noted that incidents had subsided in the first half of this year.

He added: “If you witness a vehicle driving in an anti-social manner such as doing ‘donuts’ or ‘drifting’ around roundabouts and are happy to tell us about it, please call 101 and let us know.

“Where we have a witness we are able to issue warnings and take further action against drivers about their behaviour.”