Hove Lawns: Sussex Police monitor gathering after end of GCSE exams

Students arrived at the seaside in droves to celebrate the end to their GCSE exams on Thursday, June 22.

However, after a previous gathering escalated and involved flares being set off on Hove Lawns, as many as eight police cars were seen with officers monitoring the children.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman told The Argus that a dispersal order was put in place after a report of “assault and anti-social behaviour”.

Police monitoring the mass gathering (Image: The Argus)

She added: “Police officers have responded to a large gathering of young people marking the end of term for year 11 pupils at Hove Lawns on Thursday, June 22.

“The gathering is being monitored by officers to ensure public safety and a dispersal order is in place after a report of an assault and anti-social behaviour.

“A Section 34 dispersal order has been put in place, which means anyone directed to leave the area by a police officer must do so. If they do not, then they commit an offence and may be arrested.”

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The gathering near Grand Avenue is understood to consist mainly of Cardinal Newman year 11 pupils who were celebrating the last day of term having recently finished their GCSEs.

Children began gathering from around 6pm with ten police officers monitoring the situation.

By 8pm, eight police cars were attending the scene.

The scenes come after two boys were arrested last week when hundreds of school children gathered in Hove Lawns.

The boys, aged 15 and 16, were arrested during the gathering of more than 200 GCSE school leavers.

Children were seen setting off blue flares as police also attended the mass gathering.