Culture clash
Police are appealing for calm after clashes between local and eastern European youths.
Inspector Martin Holford of Newark Police wants leaders from eastern European communities in the town to come forward to help end the violence.
He said there were clashes in different parts of Newark on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings.
The police have drafted in extra officers and dog handlers to help maintain order.
Officers believe much of the violence is orchestrated, with groups arranging fights in the parks in Friary Road and Sherwood Avenue.
Police say young eastern Europeans gather in those areas to drink on days off work.
On Monday evening, under Section 60 of the Public Order Act, Inspector Garry Astill authorised officers to use emergency stop and search powers.
Under normal circumstances stop and search can only be used when an officer has reasonable suspicions that someone has committed an offence.
Under the emergency powers officers were able to stop and search any youth they encountered.
These powers are rarely used outside major cities.
The police are confident they foiled at least one major confrontation on Monday, although smaller skirmishes took place.
Inspector Holford said arrests had been made and called for an immediate end to the trouble before someone was seriously hurt.
“This is more about idiotic youths getting together to fight rather than bigots,” he said.
“There is tension in Newark at the moment but we are clamping down hard on those responsible.
“To help us do this we would like to hear from any community leaders from eastern European communities that are out there to contact us to help bridge cultural gaps and build understanding.
“The eastern Europeans in Newark have a great deal to offer our community.”
The Polish Food Store, on Albert Street, Newark, had its window smashed on Sunday.
Co-owner Miss Paulina Nowak believes it was done in retaliation after a fight on Sleaford Road.
Inspector Holford said there was no evidence to suggest the incident was racially motivated and the matter was being investigated as criminal damage.
Audio/visual security cameras were installed at the store earlier this year after allegations of racist abuse.
