Police have banned groups from gathering at a popular beach in the South West after vandals repeatedly trashed it. The coastline in the Polzeath area of Cornwall has been subject to anti-social behaviour, report Cornwall Live.
And police have now issued a dispersal order, banning groups from gathering in and around Polzeath for 48 hours, from 10pm on Thursday night (July 14) until 10pm on Saturday night (July 16). Anyone who does not obey the order can be arrested.
Police reportedly say emergency life-saving equipment has been damaged, alcohol bottles smashed and "a large amount of litter left" on the beach. In a statement issued on Thursday evening, Devon and Cornwall Police told Cornwall Live: "Police in Polzeath have issued a dispersal order following reports of anti-social behaviour in the area.
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"The direction to leave notice is in place from 10pm on Thursday 14 until 10pm on Saturday 16 July. Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 a direction to leave / dispersal order has been put in place as defined by the map below as it is reasonably suspected that behaviour has or is likely to contribute to: Members of the public in the locality being harassed alarmed or distressed, or the occurrence in the locality of crime and disorder and it is believed that putting a section 35 direction in place is necessary for the purpose of removing or reducing the likelihood of these events occurring.
"Over the past few nights police have received reports of alcohol related Anti-social behaviour as well as criminal damage including emergency life-saving equipment being damaged. Alcohol bottles have been smashed on the beach and a large amount of litter left.
"This is unacceptable and due to this, a direction to leave has been put in place for 48 hours. This prevents groups gathering in the area of the map. If you fail to comply you can be arrested and anyone under the age of 16 can be removed to their home address. Please respect Polzeath and the local area."
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