Police in a seaside village have been handed new powers to cope with rowdy youngsters causing havoc on its popular beach.
Devon and Cornwall Police can now have disruptive beachgoers sent home or arrested if they don’t leave when instructed.
The Neighbourhood Policing Team in Polzeath has introduced a dispersal order to control anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the beach area.
Parents are urged to make sure their teenage children don’t disrupt other residents after large noisy groups gathered and left behind litter, including broken glass.
The new powers mean ‘anyone causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress can be asked to leave the area by officers’, the police said.
New police powers have been implemented after a group of youngsters was caught on camera on the beach
Anyone who does not comply may be arrested or returned home.
Police will also remove alcohol from any underage drinkers, and high visibility patrols by local neighbourhood police officers at key times are ongoing.
Inspector Adam Stonehill said: ‘We are not here to spoil summer fun for young people and those who behave respectfully and just want to meet up with their mates are not a problem.
‘However, the behaviour of a few is detrimental to all and we must consider the wellbeing of everyone in the locality; our local community and, in particular, those who reside and have businesses in Polzeath.
‘We have been maintaining a high visibility presence in the town due to the known sudden increase of holidaymakers to the locality which happens annually.
‘In direct correlation, there has been an increase in incidents of anti-social behaviour in the evenings. These can be directly linked to the teenagers gathering on the beach in the evening.
‘On Tuesday night (7 July) the Beach Ranger asked some youngsters from a large group to leave the area and the atmosphere changed to reflect some hostility. This behaviour continued in an anti-social manner and it will not be tolerated.’
The new powers stretch from Greenaway Beach to Pentireglaze Haven and Robbie Love’s Campsite.
It comes after teenagers were found on the idyllic Polzeath Beach at night
If a person is dispersed by police they must leave the location and not return there for the period specified, which is no more than 48 hours.
The order came into effect on 8 July and lasts until early on Friday 10 July.
It may be extended if police feel it is necessary to stop members of the public in the area becoming victims of harassment, alarm or distress or crime or disorder taking place.
The force also has a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in place to stop people drinking in certain public areas of Cornwall, including Polzeath.
Alcohol can be confiscated, and failure to stick to the PSPO can lead to a fixed penalty notice or a fine.
Share or comment on this article:
Police handed new powers to crack down on rowdy youngsters wreaking havoc on popular beach
Source link
CHECK OUT: Top Travel Destinations
READ MORE: Travel News
