Police hunt men who tried to sink paddleboarders off Essex coast

2023-07-03

Police hunt group of jet-skiers who tried to sink paddleboarders off Essex coast

Police have released photos of the men who appear to be in their 30s or 40s.

Police are hunting a group of rogue jetskiers who used their machines at top speed to try and topple nearby paddleboarders off a coastline in Essex.

The crew were seen driving dangerously fast and apparently deliberately attempting to cause paddle-boarders to fall into the water

Officers from Essex Police’s Marine Unit were called to waterways in several locations in Wivenhoe, Rowhedge, Brightlingsea and Point Clear Bay, Essex on Sunday June, 25.

Essex Police have since released seven shots of the men, who appear to be in their 30s or 40s.

Officers want the public’s help to try and identify the watersport thugs, calling it an ‘ongoing public order investigation.’

The crew were seen driving dangerously fast and apparently deliberately attempting to cause paddle-boarders to fall into the water

Two images show the suspects up close and the jetskis are blue, red and black

Two images show the suspects up close and the jetskis are blue, red and black.

Essex Police said: ‘Officers from our Marine Unit were called around 6pm to several locations in Wivenhoe, Rowhedge, Brightlingsea and Point Clear Bay following multiple reports of public order offences and anti-social behaviour.

‘A group of men were reported to be dangerously driving jet skis causing distress to members of the public.

‘The jet skis users were also believed to be excessively speeding and deliberately attempting to cause paddle-boarders to fall into the water.

‘We are appealing for the public’s help to identify these men in connection with this ongoing investigation. ‘

Last November Southend city council issued a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to curb anti social jet skiers on its seafront.

The order banned the launching of jet skis from a large area of the esplanade and from coming within 400 metres of a public beach or bathing area.

Failure to comply with a PSPO is a criminal offence that can lead to a fixed penalty notice of £100 or a fine of up to £1,000 upon conviction.

During the 2022 season, Essex Police’s Marine Unit stopped and spoke to 179 personal watercraft riders and 49 people in power boats about their behaviour on the water.

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