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| Cromer disorder: Pubs shut as seaside town 'in lockdown' | Cromer disorder: Pubs shut as seaside town 'in lockdown' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A seaside town reportedly went into "lockdown" on Saturday night as disorder forced pubs and bars in the resort to shut. | |
| Venues in Cromer, Norfolk, closed for the "safety of customers and staff". | |
| Norfolk Police said extra officers would continue to patrol on Sunday following "low level disorder" over the weekend. | |
| The force said pubs in the area "made the decision to close" after thefts and anti-social behaviour. | |
| Police stressed that accounts of a stabbing were unfounded, but said there had been thefts from shops and pubs and officers had been called to reports of groups refusing to leave pubs and not paying for drinks at a restaurant. | |
| Some local people on Twitter linked the disorder to the arrival of travellers in the area. This has not been confirmed by police. | |
| 'Act swiftly' | 'Act swiftly' |
| North Norfolk District Council said a group of travellers in 23 caravans had set up camp in the town's Runton Road car park. | North Norfolk District Council said a group of travellers in 23 caravans had set up camp in the town's Runton Road car park. |
| A spokeswoman said they arrived on Friday and the council had served a notice on Saturday for them to leave. | A spokeswoman said they arrived on Friday and the council had served a notice on Saturday for them to leave. |
| In a statement, the local authority said: "We are working closely with the police to reassure the community, businesses and visitors to our seaside resorts. | In a statement, the local authority said: "We are working closely with the police to reassure the community, businesses and visitors to our seaside resorts. |
| "The council will always act swiftly where there are illegal encampments." | |
| It said it would "seek support from the magistrates" on Monday if the travellers did not leave. | |
| Residents said a group of people had been fighting in the town, which they had described as "in lockdown". | |
| In a statement on its Facebook page on Saturday, Cromer Pier said: "On advice from the police, the Theatre Bar is closed to the public this evening as are all the other public houses in Cromer. | |
| "Apologies for any inconvenience whilst we support our local police in bringing a difficult situation in the town under control." | "Apologies for any inconvenience whilst we support our local police in bringing a difficult situation in the town under control." |
| 'Huge hit' | 'Huge hit' |
| Nearby in East Runton, a holidaymaker said up to 20 police cars arrived after the landlord at a campsite bar refused to serve some people. Police confirmed they attended the site. | |
| Chris Perry said: "It was clear there was a commotion going on in the clubhouse and a group of people arrived at that bar. | Chris Perry said: "It was clear there was a commotion going on in the clubhouse and a group of people arrived at that bar. |
| "The licensee had decided they weren't going to serve them and the shutters went down at the bar and the police in huge numbers turned up - up to 20 vehicles here last night with dog units." | "The licensee had decided they weren't going to serve them and the shutters went down at the bar and the police in huge numbers turned up - up to 20 vehicles here last night with dog units." |
| The town has been hosting its annual carnival week, which finished on Friday, and draws in about 250,000 people to north Norfolk, according to the organisers. | The town has been hosting its annual carnival week, which finished on Friday, and draws in about 250,000 people to north Norfolk, according to the organisers. |
| The chairman of the carnival committee, Tony Shipp, said: "It's been a fantastic carnival week but this has taken the shine off things." | The chairman of the carnival committee, Tony Shipp, said: "It's been a fantastic carnival week but this has taken the shine off things." |
| A cafe owner from the resort said businesses had taken a "huge hit" on what should have been their busiest weekend of the year. | A cafe owner from the resort said businesses had taken a "huge hit" on what should have been their busiest weekend of the year. |
| Laurie Scott said: "There was a large group of people in town, causing some commotion and being very intimidating concerning businesses, so much so that... all of the pubs in Cromer - maybe six, seven, eight pubs - were closed at 7pm to guarantee the safety of their customers and staff. | Laurie Scott said: "There was a large group of people in town, causing some commotion and being very intimidating concerning businesses, so much so that... all of the pubs in Cromer - maybe six, seven, eight pubs - were closed at 7pm to guarantee the safety of their customers and staff. |
| "There is a feeling of unease within the town and anger that at the end of our busiest week of the year this has happened." | "There is a feeling of unease within the town and anger that at the end of our busiest week of the year this has happened." |
| North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb tweeted on Saturday: "Very concerned by what I've read online tonight. | North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb tweeted on Saturday: "Very concerned by what I've read online tonight. |
| "Of course happy to support people in Cromer in any way I can." | "Of course happy to support people in Cromer in any way I can." |
| Norfolk Police said extra officers were on patrol "to provide reassurance to the local community". | Norfolk Police said extra officers were on patrol "to provide reassurance to the local community". |
| Supt Malcolm Cooke said: "Local businesses were made aware of a small number of incidents dealt with by officers, but no official police direction was given that businesses should close. | |
| "We acknowledge there have been a number of incidents in Cromer over the weekend, which will understandably cause concern. | |
| "However, I can assure residents these incidents have been dealt with appropriately and are of a nature routinely dealt with in towns such as Cromer on a busy August weekend." | |
| Were you in Cromer on Saturday night? Did you see any disorder? What was the atmosphere like in the town? E-mail us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Were you in Cromer on Saturday night? Did you see any disorder? What was the atmosphere like in the town? E-mail us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |