Public schools warned over yobs

Polzeath beach will become a dispersal area

Police have written to public school headmasters amid concerns about yobbish behaviour at a Cornish resort.

A ban on anyone using Daymer Bay, near Rock in north Cornwall, at night will run from 1 July to the end of August to try to stop anti-social behaviour.

It follows complaints about rowdy behaviour on the beach over the summer. Police and local people claim many culprits are from public schools.

But a spokesman for independent schools denied they were solely responsible.

It is a convenient media myth that has grown over the years that hooray Henrys and Henriettas from public schools are to blame Dick Davison, Headmasters Conference

Sgt Robin Hogg, who has written to every public school in England and Wales to warn their pupils of the crackdown, said: "The perception is that most of the troublemakers are from public schools.

"They congregate on Daymer Bay in the week before state schools break up.

"There are no facilities on Daymer Bay and the area is very affluent and it is seen as the place to come."

He added: "We don't want to stop these people coming and enjoying themselves; but damaging vehicles, vomiting or urinating in driveways and throwing bottles is not fair."

Many of those blamed for the bad behaviour are drawn to the area by hype and the presence of princes William and Harry, who have often visited nearby Polzeath for the surfing.

'Let off steam'

But Dick Davison of Headmasters Conference, which represents public schools, said not all the yobs were from public schools.

"It is a convenient media myth that has grown over the years that 'Hooray Henrys and Henriettas' from public schools are to blame.

"The truth is that all youngsters are tempted to let off steam and some of them are drawn from public schools and some from state schools."

The ban was jointly agreed by police, North Cornwall District Council and the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership.

A security company employed to enforce the ban from 2200 BST will be supported by police.

A dispersal order for Polzeath beach has also been agreed.

It means that if two or more people are causing a disturbance, police can ask them to leave the area and not return within 24 hours.