BREAKING NEWS: Facebook protest saves Worthing club night

POLICE have agreed to allow an under-18s club night to go ahead after meeting with protesters who campaigned against its closure on Facebook.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Nov 2009, 09:09 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:05 BST

The Friday night youth event at See or Be Seen, formerly Club East, in Railway Approach was cancelled more than two weeks ago after police raised concerns about anti-social behaviour.

More than 1,000 upset teenagers joined a Facebook group calling for the night to be returned and many took part in a peaceful protest in the town on Saturday.

See video of the protest here.

Teenagers impress

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Last night (Thursday, November 19), Inspector Allan Lowe, from Worthing police, agreed to withdraw police objections to the event after he and community safety manager Jacqui Cooke met with around 20 young campaigners at the club.

Ideas put forward included finishing earlier and having a membership scheme so the event organisers would be able to contact parents if there were any problems.

Insp Lowe said he was impressed by the maturity of the campaigners, who argued intelligently why the night should continue.

He said: "It is very important we listen to the young people of Worthing as they have as much right as anyone else to be heard.

Working together

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"The majority highlighted this issue in a very mature way and, at our meeting with them last night, gave me clear reasons as to why the events should continue.

"I very much respect them for that.

"Moreover, management have agreed to conditions on these events required by Sussex Police and as a result, we have withdrawn our objection to them.

"We hope to use the events as a way of engaging with young people about important local issues that affect them."

If all the police's conditions to keep young people safe are met, the club night looks set to start up again in December.

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