A SECTOR police inspector has warned that youths involved in gang fights at Dawlish and the surrounding area will be dealt with 'robustly and heavily'.
Fighting in the town during the past few weeks has escalated, especially now that the summer season is in full swing and schools have broken up. Dawlish Warren currently has more than 30,000 holidaymakers, according to the inspector.
Groups of up to 30 youths from Starcross, the Warren, Dawlish and Teignmouth have been causing upset with regular 'turf' wars. Insp John Perry, of Teingmouth and Dawlish, puts the fighting down to hot weather and excessive drinking. 'It has been going on for years,' he said.
'It happened last year; the year before and almost seems to be territorial.' On Friday of last week a total of 34 officers were deployed in the area, the most so far used this summer. Due to this high number, incidents in Dawlish were low last weekend. However, on Tuesday and Wednesday last week there were gangs fighting on the Lawn.
Inspector Perry continued: 'I would like to stress that it is not the public being attacked, it is groups of youths who have running feuds. 'One would hope that the action we have taken recently and the response we are putting in at the weekend should put a lid on it.
'It's petty issues between groups of youths, fighting among themselves, and they need to grow up. 'They are causing harm to others and they need to have a wider view of the community they live in. 'They are unfairly raising the fear of crime among the public. 'One day their children may be growing up here and what would they think of their behaviour then? 'We will be dealing robustly and heavily with these events and people involved.'