Police say nitrous oxide being taken on industrial scale across UK tourist beach
Swimmers on Bournemouth beach were inhaling nitrous oxide balloons “on an almost industrial scale”, police have warned.
More than 20 police officers took part in a seaside patrol to stamp out a laughing gas outbreak in a Dorset holiday resort.
They confiscated dozens of canisters containing laughing gas from groups of teenagers on the sand.
But the increased police presence has not deterred large groups from brazenly engaging in Class C drug use.
Yesterday (Wednesday) a group was seen passing around what appeared to be laughing gas balloons next to the pier, which has become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.
Police said nitrous oxide gave the user a “short-lived high” which led to anti-social behavior and disorder, ruining other people’s beach experience.
They say most groups become ‘confrontational’ when challenged and ‘see nothing wrong with it’.
A Bournemouth Police spokesman said: “For those unaware of NOS it is Nitrous Oxide or laughing gas or, to some, a cold whip.
“It is consumed on an almost industrial scale by coastal groups and causes ASB and dysregulation due to the short-term highs achieved.
“As large groups descended on the beach, more than 20 police officers on patrol spent most of their day dealing with it.
“Their behavior affects local people, visiting families and others who have a good time here and use the beautiful space on our doorstep.
“Many of the groups discussed are confrontational and see nothing wrong with consuming something that is classed as a Class C drug when used in this way.”
The family-friendly holiday resort has gained a ‘wild west’ reputation due to the level of anti-social behavior and violence.
The unrest last month culminated in the injury of three police officers when missiles, including glass bottles, were thrown at them by a crowd of more than 100 young people.
A mother claimed she had to rescue her daughter from the beach ‘jungle’ during the chaos and it was no longer safe for families.
Bournemouth resident Lydia Micro said at the time: “It’s a jungle of people everywhere, there are hundreds of teenagers and teenagers.
“They are fighting, people are being pushed to the ground, bottles are being thrown.
“There are too many police. This is a massacre.
“It’s very scary, especially if you have children there, so I went to pick up my daughter.
“He’s absolutely fine but he won’t be coming back to Bournemouth beach again.”
However, Dorset Police said they had increased seaside patrols to cope with the increased number of visitors during the hot summer months.
Chief Inspector Julie Howe said: “We see a significant increase in visitors during the summer months and our neighborhood teams are working to tackle the crimes and issues that matter most to our community.
“We are increasing our resources where we see increased numbers of people, such as seaside areas, and we continue to work with our partners to be proactive in preventing and deterring disorder to keep our communities safe.
“The dedication, compassion and commitment to making a real difference, whether tackling local issues, supporting vulnerable people or simply being a visible and reassuring presence, is something I am immensely proud of and I am grateful for the trust they continue to build in the communities we serve.”
