Police use Polzeath dispersal order to prevent further anti-social behaviour

Our Neighbourhood Policing Team in Polzeath has taken the unusual step of introducing a dispersal order to control anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the beach area.

Parents are urged to make sure their teenage children don’t cause a nuisance and negative impact for other residents after large noisy groups gathered and left behind litter, including broken glass.

The main priority of the police is to keep everyone safe and the new powers mean anyone causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress can be asked to leave the area by officers. 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. The recent hot weather has caused more young people to gather in large groups.     

Inspector Adam Stonehill explained: “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 dispersal powers cover a zone from Greenaway Beach to Pentireglaze Haven across to Robbie Love’s Campsite,

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 dispersal order came into effect on Wednesday 8 July and lasts until early on Friday 10 July. The order 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.

We also enforce a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to stop people drinking in certain public areas of Cornwall, including Polzeath. This is deemed necessary to prevent anti-social behaviour. Alcohol can be confiscated and failure to stick to the PSPO can lead to a fixed penalty notice or a fine. The PSPO came into effect in October 2023 and was granted by Cornwall Council.    

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To report anti-social behaviour or incidents please call 101 or visit the Devon & Cornwall Police website Home | Devon & Cornwall Police