Date Published: 07/08/2020
ARCHIVED - Vigilance against further botellon drinking sessions in Cabo de Palos and La Manga
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
The situation has been kept under control recently but on Tuesday newly arrived youngsters caused problems for police
41 new local police agents were sworn in last week at a ceremony at the El Batel Auditorium in Cartagena, their arrival timely given the anticipated problem of young people ignoring the Covid risk to indulge in summer “botellon” drinking sessions.
There have been complaints from residents in certain areas of Cabo de Palos and La Manga for years, as large groups of young people gather to socialise, bringing their own drinks and snacks to favoured open spaces where they can play music, drink and socialise until the early hours of the morning.
When Covid prevention measures closed the discos and night-clubs normally frequented by the younger generation during the summer months, Cartagena council knew there would be an increased problem with botellon gatherings, and re-enforced patrols in Cabo de Palos and La Manga in anticipation of a busy summer.
As it’s turned out, young people have been behaving themselves and there hasn´t been any major problem with botellon gatherings, but as the calendar ticked over into August, new arrivals from the cities have caused a few issues.
La Opinión reported earlier this week that there were three botellon gatherings on Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday morning : one in Islas Menores, a second in the Burger King area Cabo de Palos and a third at the access point to the Playa de Levante and it was this third gathering which became a point of conflict at around four o’clock in the morning when police respnded to calls from residents requesting that the gathering be broken up.
Opinion reports that two officers were injured during the scuffles which took place trying to detain some of the 60-70 youngsters, who were not wearing masks, drinking alcohol and failing to observe social distancing, who scattered when the police arrived to avoid the fines for the various offences being committed.
Neighbours were unhappy about the amount of rubbish left behind and requested that the area be disinfected as well, due to the high number of young people concerned.
As the weekend approaches and temperatures increase, patrols will be extra vigilant for signs of unauthorised gatherings as work continues to try and prevent incidents of this nature occurring again.