Police have issued a 48-hour dispersal order on a beach in Polzeath, Cornwall, after private school children engaged in drinking, smashing glasses, and underage sex, causing chaos in the seaside town. The students, many from families with second homes in the area, have targeted the staycation hotspot since breaking up for summer.
Police Response to Anti-Social Behaviour
Inspector Adam Stonehill of Devon and Cornwall Police 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." The dispersal order was issued after the young people became hostile towards beach ranger and former police officer Andy Stewart, according to The Sun.
Impact on Local Community
Inspector Stonehill added that the order was issued to protect the local community and specifically "those who reside and have businesses in Polzeath." He noted: "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."
Previous Incidents and Measures
This is not the first time the beach has faced anti-social behaviour issues. A dispersal order was also issued in 2022, and CCTV cameras were used to crack down on bad behaviour in 2024. A separate Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has been in place since 2023, giving officers power to confiscate alcohol and issue fines and fixed penalties. The force described the dispersal order as an "unusual step" directed towards "anyone causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress."
