Infra-red CCTV cameras used at beach at Polzeath, Cornwall in late-night party crackdown
A popular tourist destination in Cornwall has resorted to infra-red CCTV cameras to crack down on anti-social behaviour.
The move comes after crowds of young people partying on the beach at Polzeath sparked complaints and a dispersal order allowing police to break up crowds of partygoers that reportedly left the beach looking like a 'festival site'.
Now two CCTV cameras have been supplied for the beach, which is patrolled by beach rangers and police at night.
Senior beach ranger Andy Stewart told BBC News the cameras had already helped reduce anti-social behaviour.
Describing them as a "necessary evil", he said: "Sometimes you need to be more intrusive and find out what is going on.
"You cannot be in every place all the time and the cameras have proven their worth in their first two weeks."
Polzeath Beach Ranger Service posted an update on the cameras on its Facebook page, showing an infra-red image of a gathering on the night of 9 July.
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The update described what had happened on the night, saying: "The behaviour is marginally better - no bottles thrown at the cliff and the lifesaving equipment is intact.
"A large percentage are friendly, kind and well mannered but many aren't.
"The litter discarded on the sand is disgusting."
It also described an encounter with one group of youths who were asked to pick up their litter but refused, adding: "We will persist but this younger generation aren't going to save the planet any time soon if many of them can't walk 100m to a bin."
However, the post also included a second picture of four young men who had returned to the beach to clear it of bottles and cans, imploring other youngsters to be more like them.
