Derby clash sparks cone amnesty

Drunken revellers have walked off with hundreds of cones

The love of drunken revellers for walking off with traffic cones has left one police force facing a costly shortage.

Southampton police are appealing for hundreds of traffic cones which have gone missing over the past year to be returned.

The city force, which once had several hundred "no waiting" cones held in storage, now has just a few left.

With derby clashes coming up between Southampton and Portsmouth football clubs in the city in December, the police have backed a cone amnesty.

It's a mystery - like socks in the washing machine Inspector Paul Strassheim

Officers say that as well as going missing in drunken pranks, many cones are simply never returned when borrowed by members of the public for special events such as weddings and funerals.

Each cone is worth more than £4 and the losses would have to be paid for by Hampshire Constabulary and the taxpayer unless they are returned.

Inspector Paul Strassheim said: "We use the cones for marking off roads and policing special events such as the football.

"So with the two big derby ties just weeks away, we urgently need our cones back.

"After the last cone amnesty in 2001, hundreds were returned but gradually our supply has dwindled away again.

"But it is taxpayers' money which is being lost and we would very much like our cones returned."

Anybody who wishes to return a cone should first ensure that they are marked Hampshire Constabulary and then take them along to their nearest police station.