Police are appealing for witnesses to an incident involving youths in Eastbourne town centre.
At around 4pm on Tuesday (December 20), officers were called to Terminus Road, near to The Beacon shopping centre, following a report of young people using suspected stolen umbrellas to fight each other.
Police arrested two 17-year-old boys from Eastbourne on suspicion of affray.
They were both released on conditional bail until March 20 while officers investigate.
Their conditions include to not enter, or be in the vicinity of, The Beacon shopping centre and Terminus Road.
Police are now trying to identify the rest of the group and are asking anyone who has any CCTV or mobile phone footage to come forward.
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for Eastbourne Sarah Taylor said:
“This was an abhorrent incident that happened at peak time on one of the busiest days of the year.
“The town centre was packed with families and children doing their Christmas shopping and this altercation may have caused alarm and distress.
“We want the public to know that we will not tolerate these kinds of incidents and we will catch those responsible.
“We have already made two arrests and are doing everything we can to identify the rest of the group.
“The public can also expect to see a heightened police presence in the town centre following this incident.”
Police have stepped up patrols in the town centre in a bid to combat anti-social behaviour during the festive period.
Officers and partners have been meeting at Bankers Corner every day during December as part of the force’s Op Confront campaign focusing on public safety, preventing ASB and detecting crime.
The campaign has already been hugely successful with multiple arrests. Read more here:
A Section 35 dispersal order was also put in place for Eastbourne town centre last weekend.
This meant someone given notice under the order could be dispersed from the area for a set period of time and would commit an arrestable offence if they returned.
That is just one of the policing powers available to officers to use to prevent further anti-social behaviour from impacting on an area.
Any witnesses to the altercation on Tuesday (December 20), can report online, or call 101, quoting serial 825 of 20/12.
Anyone who has concerns around crime and disorder is asked to contact the Neighbourhood Policing Team online or by calling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
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