Local News
Hull police reported no incidents on Friday after increasing staffing in response to rumors of a large beach gathering.
Nantasket Beach Stan Grossfeld/Boston Globe
Hull police boosted patrols at Nantasket Beach on Friday after social media posts suggested a large “takeover” event could unfold there — but authorities reported no issues and a quieter-than-usual beach scene.
On Wednesday, Hull police released a statement acknowledging rumors of the possible beach brouhaha, saying they planned to increase staffing at the popular beach on Friday.
“The Hull Police Department will have zero tolerance for criminal activity, alcohol consumption on the beach, disorderly behavior, or violations of parking and traffic regulations,” police said.
But in a Facebook update posted Friday, officials reported no public safety concerns and said they had not received any reports of incidents connected to the social media posts.
“The beach is currently quieter than would typically be expected on a hot June Friday, with ample parking and plenty of beach space available,” police wrote in the afternoon update:
By Friday afternoon, state troopers stationed at Nantasket Beach told WBZ-TV that Boston’s Carson Beach was the new rumored location for the gathering. However, there were no immediate reports of any gathering or arrests at Carson Beach Friday.
Officials’ concerns stemmed in part from similar beach “takeover” events reported elsewhere in New England in recent weeks. One such gathering in May at New Hampshire’s Hampton Beach resulted in 51 arrests after fights broke out, according to New Hampshire police.
In a statement about that incident, police said, “Large crowds gathered in the area of the Seashell Stage, along Ocean Boulevard. During the gathering, multiple fights among members of the crowd occurred. While law enforcement intervened in the altercations and several people were taken into custody, others in the crowd became unruly, and additional fights took place.”
Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.
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