A CRACKDOWN designed to tackle drunks and troublemakers in Clacton town centre has been extended until 2020.

The public spaces protection order has been in place in the town since July last year.

The order allows councils to ban any activity they believe may have a negative effect on quality of life in the area.

Tendring’s Community Safety Partnership has now extended the order until August 31, 2020.

The original order has been changed to deter individuals or groups of people loitering in the restricted area of the town centre and the Waterglade retail park area, and now also includes young people under the age of 16.

Another move will allow the use of enforcement powers – including fines – within the designated area to prevent the use of illegal substances.

Tendring Council enforcement boss Fred Nicholls said the changes have been made as a result of feedback from the community and businesses.

“We’ve listened to residents and businesses and the changes to the order reflect their concerns,” he said.

“I also want to give visitors a great experience when coming to Clacton and for it not be blighted by the behaviour of a few.”

He said there is a range of powers that can be used to deal with any breaches within the specified area, including fines and community protection notices.

New signs stating the restrictions in the designated area will be put in place this week.

Clacton Town Partnership chairman Graham Webb said: “We welcome the order being extended and have been calling for it.

“But it won’t make any difference if no one is enforcing the rules.

“There needs to be a police presence in the town centre and not just a token gesture, but a presence there every single day.

“I know the police go on about the lack of manpower, but you see them sat up by the bypass for road operations with 20 or 30 officers involved – and they do catch a lot of people.

“But they do nothing about the town centre.”

Last month a dispersal order was put in place in the town centre after five police officers were assaulted in five days, including a female officer who suffered a serious injury after being slashed in the face with garden shears.

The incident came after shopkeepers had complained about an increase in antisocial behaviour from youths and drunks using the derelict yard behind the former Carlton pub in Rosemary Road.

Public space protection orders were first introduced in October 2014 under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act.

In Colchester, campaigners labelled plans for an order to ban beggars from the town centre as “social cleansing”.

Council bosses were also warned they risked moving problems to other parts of the town.