England town bans mankinis in the name of peace
LONDON -- It was one small ban for mankinis, one giant step for an English seaside resort town.
Officials in Newquay say crime has fallen since they cracked down on stag parties - the days-long, booze-fuelled British version of the bachelor party -- wearing the revealing one-piece garments.
The town in southwest England is a haven for surfers and also attracts large numbers of young partygoers.
After two teenagers fell from cliffs to their deaths in 2009, residents protested about the excessive partying.
Police clamped down on anti-social behavior, including public drunkenness and the wearing of "inappropriate clothing" such as the sling-style swimsuits made notorious by comic character Borat.
Mayor David Sleeman said Thursday the town was unrecognizable from a few years ago, when "you couldn't walk the streets on a Saturday without seeing someone wearing a mankini or what have you."