Surfers in Cornwall threatened with ASBOs
Surfers in Cornwall threatened with ASBOs
Surfers in Cornwall are facing anti-social behavioural orders (ASBOs) for surfing in areas of the sea reserved for swimmers. Lifeguards at Sennen Beach have asked the police for help in making surfers stick to the rules.
The beach at
Sennen is popular with surfers but also has an area that is for swimmers only, reports The Telegraph. However, lifeguards are having difficulty enforcing the rules and have enlisted the police for help.
The police are considering sending a community support officer to patrol the beach and have even suggested sending persistent offenders to court, where they could be issued with an ASBO.
The
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has lifeguards who currently patrol the popular beach in
Cornwall, but they have no real powers over beach users.
"Our lifeguards cannot enforce the bylaws. Their remit is to advise," said a spokesperson for the RNLI. They have now turned to the police after several incidents where surfers cut through the swimming-only zone and almost injured bathers.
Local constable Andrew Tonkin said: "The RNLI lifeguards have logged quite a few problems with surfers recently. There have been particular problems with longboarders whose refusal to use leashes [which attaches the board to the surfer's ankle] could cause injury to swimmers."
An officer on the beach could monitor the surfers and intervene when necessary, Tonkin added. The idea has, however, been met with anger by local surfers.
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