'Stay away from park after dark' say police

And one leader has criticised police for suggesting overseas students should avoid the beach, Egerton Park (pictured) and the Down.

Robert Carey is a consultant with Renown Coaches who in turn handle students under the banner Agency for International Visits.

He said: "We have encountered a serious problem this year with the apparent unwarranted attacks on German students in the town by what I believe to be by small but nasty groups of local thugs. The type of individuals that unfortunately appear all over our town at all times of the day and do not seem to have any real purpose in life than to cause trouble.

"These verbal and physical assaults have occurred daily during the past 14 days culminating in a serious assault last Friday.

"Matters really came to a head this past weekend and apart from the obvious impressions made on these youngsters by the acts of this minority we in the town should also look at the other outcome of these attacks whereby the students could stop coming with Bexhill losing income from these visits.

"I would also like to think that we in this country would want to try to overcome the unfavourable impression that foreigners are forming more and more about us.

"It is hard enough for the organisers finding the families to take the students and finding suitable premises for their activities without this particular serious problem.

"Naturally the police are involved and they have told the students to stay away from the beach, the Down and Egerton Park.

"This is of course absolutely ridiculous as it also means that these are 'no go areas' during the evening.

"There has always been this particular problem but not with the violence that appears to be even more associated with these events. Serious problems have been encountered this year with unwarranted attacks on visiting students.

"We all want something done about this minority group - to be honest we all need protection in the town and I am sorry to say it but it is a nationwide problem - the police do not seem to have the resources to deal with it and even if they want to can they enforce matters."

"We all know the troublemakers - you have only to walk around the town and realise who would love to start trouble."

With student groups coming into the town at the rate of 40 at a time and each needing accommodation with a local family the benefit to the town economy over a season is considerable.

Robert asks: "Are there any local businesses that can offer or suggest anything to keep the students occupied? They have lessons, of course, and trips out but it is when they are alone in the evening and sometimes during the day when they need help.

"For the police to say do not go to our main park, the beach and a local amenity like the Down is ludicrous.

"They should be able to, just as we citizens of Bexhill should be able to do."

Sergeant Reeve-Fowkes said: "Because of the problems that have been encountered when they are unsupervised, when I meet the groups each week I advise that they should not use the park, the Polegrove or the Down unsupervised at night."

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