Police waited outside Worthing pubs as they were trashed

Sussex Police put a “containment” on venues that were trashed with food packaging, cans of beer not bought in the pubs and tables vandalised with permanent marker in Worthing town centre.

The force faced an “unprecedented” level of antisocial behaviour that it had not seen “on such a scale as this in Worthing”.

Officers responded just before 8pm on Thursday and remained until the group wreaking havoc in pubs left just after midnight.

Rubbish strewn across the bar floor

One man, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “Publicans are absolutely shocked and appalled, they felt like they had no assistance.

"Nothing was mentioned to them, they stood outside and waited for them to go while these people were inside trashing the place. They bought their own alcohol while the bar stopped serving.

“There was drawing on tables, urinating on floors in the bar area, excrement was in the sinks, rubbish all over the floor.

“People are saddened by this. They did not have the support, nothing has been said that I’m aware of.”

Table vandalised and rubbish left on the floor in one pub on Thursday, September 1

Sussex Police said it has to consider the safety of everyone, including its officers, when responding to incidents.

The force also thanked pub owners for their “resilience” during the night of chaos.

The pubs believed to have been affected were Three Fishes Wetherspoons, Slug and Lettuce, O'Connors and Thieves Kitchen.

No arrests have been made but a group of travellers were evicted from Morrisons car park in Newland Street, Worthing, on Friday morning. Police linked that eviction when making statements on Friday.

Inspector Sharon Sawyer, of the Adur and Worthing Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The level of disorder and antisocial behaviour caused during this incident – on an evening of significant demand in the local area – was unprecedented, and it goes without saying that this sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable.

“Our officers were quick to respond and put a containment on the venue, and we authorised a Section 34 dispersal order within a matter of minutes to prevent further disorder. Our PCSOs also alerted other venues in the town to the situation in a bid to minimise the impact.

Beer cans strewn across the floor in one of the pubs

“The incident was escalated to Force Command which ensured we obtained the support of additional resources. At this point, the crowds began to disperse, however we continued to maintain a visible police presence in the town until the early hours of the morning.

“When responding to any incident we need to consider the safety of everyone concerned, and this includes our police officers. We need to ensure the actions we take do not put them – or anyone else – at risk of further harm.

“I am mindful of the impact this incident will have had on pub staff and customers alike, and I’d like to commend them for their resilience on what was a hugely challenging evening for all concerned.

Police responded shortly before 8pm last Thursday

“In my many years of policing I have not been aware of an incident on such a scale as this in Worthing.

"The PCSOs and police officers who initially attended did everything they could to minimise the impact of this group while ensuring that sufficient officers could attend to manage this safely, and further businesses were not subject of disruption.

“Our investigations are ongoing and if anyone can assist us with our enquiries please contact Sussex Police quoting serial 1302 of 01/09.”