Councillors are calling on tougher actions to crack down on anti-social behaviour on the English coast amid claims it has become a "Mecca" for people breaching Covid-19 rules.
Anti-social behaviour has become a "huge problem" on North Tyneside's coastline as the number of offences - mainly linked to Covid-19 - has soared in the North East.
Councillor Lewis Bartoli is one of the three councillors who signed a Conservative-backed motion for North Tyneside Council which calls for "more support for our coastal communities".
He claimed residents had found their gardens had been used as toilets and that streets were left covered in vomit and litter after boozy gatherings on the coast during lockdown, ChronicleLive reports.
In December, a huge crowd gathered in the centre of Tynemouth, and last summer a day of drunken violence unfolded on one of the hottest days of the year.
"If the last two easings (of lockdown) have taught us anything, it is that the British public like a drink and that unfortunately the coast has come a mecca," said Cllr Bartoli.
"They aren't going to Newcastle or Whitley Bay, they are using the coastal community to congregate, eat or drink.
"That has to be done responsibly and respectfully of the people who live there."
The motion highlights both December's mass gathering, where people were reportedly being dropped into Tynemouth via taxi, along with the events last June in which eight people were arrested.
On both occasions, the events came shortly after lockdown restrictions were eased. And on both occasions, Cllr Bartoli claims officials were caught "unaware".
"It isn't a criticism, as I didn't flag it up either, but when we know we are going to have a relaxation of the lockdown (rules) we just want the police and council to have a bit more of a plan," he added.
"It is the same way that we used to have a plan when there was a bank holiday - we just want to see some resources and planning."
Among his suggestions include a more "visible" police presence, or a Public Space Protection Order - which would need to be implemented by the local authority.
Northumbria Police, which has administered more Covid-19 fines than any other UK police force, did launch Operation Coastwatch last summer as part of measures to tackle anti-social behaviour at the coast.
However new figures, published by Northumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner, show there was a massive surge in anti-social behaviour last year, much of which was linked to Covid-19.
Between April and August, incidents increased by 68 per cent across the North East year-on-year. At the peak during April and May, up to 53% of these were linked to Covid-19.
Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said while that figure has since dropped, it showed the impact the first lockdown had on the police.
"Anti-social behaviour can have a huge impact on people’s day to day lives, and we need to work together as a region to tackle it," she said.
"That means the police tackling those breaking the law, it means working with councils to solve problem neighbours, littering and graffiti and it means working with community groups to rebuild the youth services destroyed by ten years of Government austerity."
And the council motion calls for all parties to "work constructively" to tackle the issue at the coast. If not, Cllr Bartoli fears, "there is a good chance" there could be similar scenes once the latest restrictions are eased.
