Police in the Cornwall village of Polzeath were forced to issue a rare 48-hour dispersal order after hordes of private school teenagers descended on the beach resort, wreaking havoc and prompting comparisons to party destinations like Faliraki. The order, which ended on Friday morning, is typically reserved for extreme antisocial behaviour such as the 2024 anti-immigration riots.
Sexual act behind burger van and smashed glass
According to a local business owner, police caught a couple in the middle of a sexual act behind a food van. The teens, described as "really, really obnoxious," smashed glass and urinated on the beach. The business owner told the Sun: "A copper said he went round the back of a food van and caught two people in the middle of a sexual act. They’re all private school kids – this doesn’t happen at any other time of the year."
Police response and local impact
Police Inspector Adam Stonehill said the antisocial behaviour was "directly linked" to the teens gathered on the beach. He stated: "We are not here to spoil the 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."
Polzeath, known as a surfing hotspot and a destination where Prince Harry learned to surf, is popular with the rich and famous. The recent scenes have left locals and business owners frustrated, with one comparing the atmosphere to Greek party island Faliraki or the Costa del Sol.
Similar incidents in Kent
This incident follows similar chaos along Kent's coast last month, where gangs of youths and drug dealers caused mayhem. Viral clips showed swarms of young people flooding beaches during a heatwave in late May, with reports of threatening conduct, underage drinking, and clashes with residents. Kent Police made almost 40 arrests across Thanet and issued dispersal orders in Broadstairs, Margate, and Ramsgate.
Andrew Webb, who runs Kent Surf School at Viking Bay, described the situation as "awful" and said antisocial behaviour had blighted the area for three years. He told the BBC: "Young people were getting lots of alcohol and bringing it with them. All of a sudden, they start being aggressive and throwing swear words a lot... It just becomes intimidating because if you say something as a grown-up... you've got a swarm of about 20 or 30 young youths all surrounding you." Webb added that the beach has suffered a "complete decline," forcing him to shift operations to another location and delay opening due to piles of rubbish left behind.
