PRANKSTERS caused damage and put lives at risk by untying boats at the Ha’Penny Pier in the middle of the night.

Acting district commander for Tendring, Insp Darren Deex said action is being taken to track down those responsible for the incident last Friday morning.

He also said a police officer is being dedicated to deal with an ongoing issue of anti-social behaviour at the pier and in the Harwich area.

It is believed at some time between 12.30am and 2am, three boats were untied from the pier.

One boat owner, who hit out at the incident on Facebook, said: “One of them was our 25-tonne yacht, which we are in the middle of repairing, causing substantial damage.

“The night before they climbed aboard the foot ferry, setting off all the fire extinguishers and throwing them into the sea.

“A few weeks ago we believe the same young men tried to cast another yacht adrift just after midnight, which had a family sleeping aboard.

“Luckily we saw them and managed to grab a line in time, wake up the crew and retrieve the other lines.”

Harwich councillor Ivan Henderson said action is needed to stop the anti-social behaviour before someone is seriously hurt or killed.

“People are really frustrated,” he said.

“These actions are life-threatening.

“There could be someone sleeping on one of the boats and they could end up in the middle of the shipping channel.

“It needs to be dealt with, it’s ongoing down there, this is not the first time.

“The anti-social behaviour around that area is getting worse.

“It needs nipping in the bud before someone is seriously injured or someone is killed.”

Christian Zemann, director of the Harwich Harbour Foot Ferry, said the boat has been targeted on a number of occasions including a fire extinguisher being set off last Thursday and leaflets being taken and dumped in the sea in the summer.

Tendring Community policing team inspector Darren Deex said: “Sometimes I don’t think young people understand the consequences of their actions.

“There is a big difference to messing about and when you stop and think about it, people may have been sleeping on board and those boats could have got in the way of significant ships that go to Harwich International Port.

“I’ve tasked one officer, Alan Williams, with overseeing the anti-social behaviour involving a key group in Harwich.

“I think it’s really important to stress that while Harwich Police Station is closed to the public, we do have officers there 24/7.

“I have some funding for high visibility police patrols around Harwich Pier and the Harwich area.”