Last week, it was revealed that surfers who choose to ride waves in areas designated for swimmers face being taken to court and punished with antisocial behaviour orders. Sennen beach, near Land’s End, has always been a popular spot for surfers of all ages. However, it is also a popular destination for families, many of which have very young children, who enjoy splashing about in the water.

The beach has an area reserved for those who wish to swim in the sea without the risk of being struck by a rogue surfboard. Recently though, an increasing number of surfers have been disobeying the boundaries and riding the waves in this designated zone.

Furthermore, longboarders are increasingly refusing to use leashes. Leashes connect the ankles of the surfer to the board itself, preventing the longboards from drifting off after a fall and potentially striking swimmers. Lifeguards patrolling the beach are becoming more and more frustrated by the surfers and longboarders, particularly since they have no official powers that enable them to enforce the rules. Officially, lifeguards are meant to advise, rather than force people to obey the bylaws.

This frustration has caused the lifeguards to consult the Devon and Cornwall police, who are now contemplating whether or not to send a community support officer to the beach. The police force and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, who employ the lifeguards at Sennen beach, have worked together successfully before. The Beach Beat scheme in St. Ives and Newquay has tackled antisocial behaviour on these popular Cornish beaches.

According to a police spokesman, this scheme provides “a high-visibility uniform presence on the beach” that has proved effective thus far. The community support officers are responsible for searching for missing children, general lost property, dealing with potential thefts and reporting more serious crime. These officers are also fully trained as lifeguards and can assist the normal beach lifeguards at any time. Supt Barry Frost from Devon and Cornwall Police has explained the appeal behind such schemes, “..by combining roles, both organisations gain resources and the public get a far more efficient and dynamic service”.

Despite this, the threat of court action and antisocial behaviour orders has angered many surfers, who believe that their way of life is being jeopardised. Sam Bleakly, a local surfer, believes that “surfers are famous for being rebels. It is part of the identity of the sport and the extra bureaucracy will only create strife”. Critics of the scheme have also remarked that swimmers should not be swimming in areas that have waves suitable for surfers.

However, other surfers fond of Sennen beach realise that there is a real problem that needs to be dealt with. One surfer has recently described the risk posed by certain members of the surfing community: “swimmer’s heads and necks are the bits out of the water and any injury is going to be a head injury. The results could be devastating”. Despite this recognition, the surfer continued to describe the threat of antisocial behaviour orders as “an over-reaction”.

Written by Charlotte Cook