On patrol in Polzeath, two police officers find they have the beach to themselves, bar a few surfers.
It is a rain-soaked start to the summer holidays and officers from the Devon and Cornwall force are on the lookout for the so-called "snob yobs".
For several years the seaside village of Polzeath in Cornwall has been at the centre of lurid stories about public school pupils, let out earlier than State schools for the summer, causing mayhem.
In the past drunken youths have smashed windows, attacked a police car, and last year Radley College pupil George Frewer died after falling off a cliff while two-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit.
The nightly police patrols will be in Polzeath until 12 August, paid for partly by a £10,000 contribution from two local parish councils intent on keeping a lid on any trouble.
Jane Shepherd, chairman of St Minver Highlands Parish Council, said it was money well spent.
"They are not horrible kids, but it is the pure numbers," she said. "It can be quite intimidating for elderly people when there are 1,000 kids hanging around."
'More wary'
In the village, a group of well-spoken youngsters huddle in the shelter of Hayle Pizza and Kebab shop.
Less "snobby", more soggy after a day of rain, they are on their first week of holidays.
Too young for the pub, they meander between temporary refuges like the pizza parlour.
"They are marvellous, they never cause any trouble," says pizza parlour boss Mehmet Aksoy, perhaps with an eye to trade later in the day.
Sixteen-year-old Jo Williams, from £25,000-a-year Wellington College in Berkshire, is a Polzeath newcomer, while others in the group have been coming here for years.
With the four Wellington boys are seven girls from the all-girls boarding school St Mary's in Calne, Wiltshire.
All are staying in houses, rented out at up to £1,000 a week, with an adult chaperone who is the mother of one of the party.
"They come up here begging for bread to soak up the drink and are sick in the toilets"
It is quite a close-knit community. Sixteen-year-old Millie Gauntlett's brother was at school with George Frewer.
"Everyone was really shocked," she said.
"My mother was worried about us. I think everyone is more wary - we've been told not to be stupid with drink and stay in a group."
Most are staying for a week or so and then returning to their parents for a family holiday.
Harriet Cuming, 16, said: "I love coming here, it's like a tradition coming to Polzeath."
"We have been revising for the last four months," said Ellen Fitton, 16, who has just completed 10 GCSEs.
"Our school is obsessed with work - we have spent every weekend working. We have to let off steam. We deserve it."
The Polzeath pilgrimage dates back to about five years ago when under-age drinking got out of hand in nearby Rock.
The parties switched around the headland to Daymer Bay, but that, too, got out of hand so there is now a 2200 BST curfew on non-locals on Daymer.
So Polzeath, just around the corner, has become "party central".
Attempts to control under-age drinking include a ban on alcohol on the beach.
Police say they sent letters to public schools warning their pupils about bad behaviour, but none of the group the BBC spoke to say they were told.
Nevertheless they do know local shops take a tough line on selling alcohol to anyone under 18.
All demand to see ID cards and there has already been a number of fake cards confiscated at Costcutter.
But according to the group, getting alcohol is not a problem.
"My mum lets us drink," said one of the group. "Last night everyone came back to our house."
At Costcutters the number of fake IDs proferred by youngsters trying to buy alcohol is starting to stack up.
Manager Mike Davies has become an expert at picking out the fake cards. "Last year we were collecting up to 10 a day - we had a display behind the counter.
"This year has been quieter, perhaps the word has spread."
Cafe worker Briony Crockett, 15, from nearby Wadebridge, said: "Polzeath is not really big enough for them all. They are so loud and arrogant."
Will Bickham, barman at the Waterfront cafe on the seafront, is fed up with the trouble.
"They come up here begging for bread to soak up the drink and are sick in the toilets," he said. "Their parents roll up in their 4X4s, pick up their drunk children and roll home."
Manager Sophie Hellyer admits there is a tension between the behaviour and the economic needs of the area, which relies on the influx of well-heeled holidaymakers.
"Their parents have a lot of money to spend," she said. "I just wish they would rein their children in a bit more. I don't see why we should be babysitting these children."
Sgt Dave Clarke said: "We are public servants. If they want the place to be policed then that is what we will do.
"We are within reach of Wadebridge, Camelford and Bodmin so we can be redeployed easily.
"I would like to think in the next six weeks the trouble- free days will far outweigh the days where we have to be involved. But we have to plan for the worst."
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