A BID to ban booze in a Southend park has failed – because of a lack of complaints by residents.

Police had been gathering evidence about rowdy groups of drunks who meet in Southchurch Hall Gardens.

They had hoped this would help them secure a designated public place order to help them stamp out the problem.

But they have only received ten complaints so far this year, and a meagre six in 2010.

A meeting of the Kursaal Neighbourhood Action Panel heard this had not been nearly enough to secure a ban.

This is despite almost 500 people signing a petition in January to back the initiative.

Don Johnson, 64, who lives in nearby Southchurch Hall Close, said people were drinking in the park, but the problem the police have is finding whether or not crimes are being committed.

He added: “I’ve seen them sitting there with a can in their hand. I can’t say that’s a crime – if they were committing a crime or if they got up and they were drunk and disorderly, that’s different.”

Officers say they need the public to report incidents. PC Dan Hedges, neighbourhood specialist officer for Kursaal ward, said: “Sixteen calls in two years isn’t going to get anything we want, so if the calls come in we can do something.”

Police community support officers have been carrying out regular patrols over the past two months and have thrown out three people for being in the grounds after the gates had been shut at night.

They have also found used needles in the toilets on three occasions.

Judith McMahon, Labour councillor for Kursaal ward, believes there may have been a problem with the statistics about complaints.

She said: “It’s a bit strange, because there were no reports from November of last year, but I know there was one because I made it myself.”

Anyone who has a complaint can call police on 101.