Drunken youths are causing carnage in the ‘tranquil’ Cornish village used to film the popular BBC show Poldark as residents demand action is taken to ‘keep them in line’.
Charlestown, a small fishing community on the south coast of Cornwall, has been hit by a wave of anti-social behaviour as underage drinkers wreak havoc with ‘shocking’ acts of vandalism and litter.
The ‘mayhem’ being unleashed by groups of disorderly yobs who are ‘dropped off by their parents’ and unloaded with hordes of alcohol has earned the quiet village the name of ‘Britain’s Ibiza’ as police have been forced to enact special powers.
Residents have now spoken out about the nightmare teenagers ruining their community as they reveal how ‘imbecilic’ troublemakers are ‘gobbing off’ and throwing rocks and traffic cones into the harbour.
Elderly people have been left scared to go out at night and businesses are choosing to close over fears about the alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour.
Charlestown is home to ancient tall ships and looks like a scene straight out of a by-gone era and is often used as a filming location for period dramas, including the BBC’s Poldark.
But it has now become a ‘magnet’ for underage drinkers as witnesses have reported numerous objects being thrown into the harbour near to boats by youths who have shown no respect for authority or their surroundings.
Police say anti-social behaviour has spiked during the summer holidays, leading officers to introduce new dispersal powers to move on troublemakers.
Inspector Simon Andrews, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said the dispersal order was a ‘tool for my team to use’ to step in early to combat problems
Charlestown, a small fishing community on the south coast of Cornwall, has been used to film the popular BBC show Poldark
The village has been labelled ‘Britain’s Ibiza’ amid the surge in drunken anti-social behaviour by youths
The village is home to just under 500 households but has one of the largest concentration of bars and restaurants in the area.
Harbour master Mathew Chapmen, 45, said: ‘There is an issue – and I don’t think it’s just Charlestown, I think it’s nationwide – of kids being disrespectful of adults in general.
‘They know where to go and what to get away with. I don’t like the littering, the swearing or the disrespect.
‘In groups, they egg each other on and can really wind the situation up. Daily, I have to confront them and lay down the law.
‘They never listen, but for our part, we need to keep them in line. We have a lot of businesses flourishing around here and they don’t want it happening around them – it affects business.
‘If you tell them not to do something, they gob off and do it anyway – the disrespect is shocking sometimes.’
Mr Chapmen said he had to previously stop harbour jumping for a year when the anti-social behaviour got ‘out of hand’.
He added: ‘We had the police and private security firms in to help. They came back with a bit more respect, and I think that shifted the troublemakers to go elsewhere.
Harbour master Mathew Chapmen, 45, he has been forced to confront the unruly teenagers himself and ‘lay down the law’
Drunken yobs have been seen jumping into the harbour dangerously and throwing litter into the water
‘It comes and goes. I have so much sympathy for the police. There needs to be tougher rules regarding teenagers.
‘At the moment, it is just a slap on the wrist and sent home. The harbour is here for everyone to enjoy, not just them.
‘They have this proprietary sense of entitlement to it and think they can do what they want, when they want with no repercussions.
‘We’ve had rocks and traffic cones thrown down. I don’t see what they get out of it, but I’ve never seen what they get out of vandalism.’
Other local residents and visitors described the recent scenes as ‘shocking’.
Matthew Longhurst said: ‘It was carnage in Charlestown when we visited. Quite a few horrible chavs around the harbour swearing.
‘I told one off for throwing an empty drinks can towards the harbour. Young girls mouthing off.
‘The Pier House had a major problem. Girls throwing up in there, an ambulance outside treating someone.’
Other locals said the parents should take more responsibility.
One said: ‘I cannot understand how it has become normal for parents to happily provide their children with strong alcohol and then drop them off in public areas leaving them to do whatever they want.
‘Collecting them after they have caused all this trouble and upset. I’m sure there are cameras around – how about the parents compensate the businesses, and maybe that will make them slightly more interested in what they get up to.
Inspector Simon Andrews, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said problems with anti-social behaviour had been reported during the recent week-long regatta.
He said: ‘One of the reports was a group of youths entering one of the licensed premises, disrupting the business and causing harass, alarm and distress to the local public.
‘I would suggest the good weather has helped towards an increase in anti-social behaviour.
‘We’re seeing longer days with nice sunshine, people enjoying themselves, and probably more consumption of alcohol has led to an increase.’
Insp Andrews said the dispersal order was a ‘tool for my team to use’ to step in early to combat problems.
He added: ‘We’re seeing it more around public events, such as regattas and food festivals – an increase in anti-social behaviour.’
Other local businesses said they hoped the new police powers would improve the situation.
Bruce Keeping, 66, owner of Charlestown Water Sports, said: ‘We get a lot of young kids, probably between 13-18 who come down.
‘The majority of them just want to enjoy themselves, but you’ve got a few troublemakers. These people ruin it for all the other youngsters.
‘When I’m here, I can look after all the belongings here, but in the evenings, I’ve had a lot of stuff thrown in the harbour.
‘I know it’s not the majority – it’s a minority of youngsters. Those are the ones we’ve got to get hold of and clamp down on.
‘I think you have to face them – yes, they mouth off at you, but they cannot be allowed to get away with it.
‘It’s great that we’ve now got a police presence here, which is something new in the last week or so.
The drunken youths have terrified elderly residents leaving them feeling scared to leave their homes at night – while businesses have been forced to close early
Patrick Hunt, owner of The Deck, said the anti-social behaiour was ‘probably the worst we’ve seen all year’.
‘That will help enormously, I’m sure. I think the biggest problem is that we’ve youngsters who are bringing down drink and causing mayhem in the harbour.
‘It’s a beautiful place. I would rather we were known for everything else other than the anti-social behaviour.
‘It was a bad experience in the last week, but hopefully now, with the police presence, it will clear.’
Patrick Hunt, owner of The Deck, said the regatta had been a lovely event until the evening.
He added: ‘The kids started forming in groups and causing issues. They were shouting at people and threw a few cones into the harbour. There’s no excuse for antisocial behaviour.’
Mr Hunt added that Charlestown was ‘a very nice place’ and that the recent trouble was ‘probably the worst we’ve seen all year’.
Tracey Brown owner of Charlestown Fish Co, said: ‘I heard there was some trouble where police had to attend and some of the guests had to be refunded.
‘Also down on the watersports bit, Bruce has had a lot of rubbish left there, and some of his stuff was taken and left at the end of the harbour.
‘There was a traffic cone thrown from the top of this wall into the inner harbour by some children.
‘Generally, this is the most wonderful, tranquil place to be. Normally, the kids are harbour jumping and enjoying themselves.
‘It’s a nice place to be and we love being here. Hopefully with the police coming down and doing their patrols it’ll keep that at bay and nip it in the bud.’
Despite residents’ concerns, Brian Osborne, owner of A Little Bit of Cornwall on the Quay, said it was still a ‘blissful’ place to be.
He said: ‘The main issue was children jumping off the side of the harbour where it’s dangerous.
‘If any of us confront them, we get shouted at and abuse. It’s blissful here. We’re right on the end of the harbour, got amazing views from every window.
‘It’s a nice, family, place to be. All the traders get on well with each other and we all know each other by name.
‘I think there are issues with children jumping into the harbour, but that’s just a safety thing.
‘In my opinion, there are too many alcohol establishments around the harbour which is encouraging overuse maybe, but I don’t see a problem overall.’
Charlestown was one of the main spots used in Poldark, the hit BBC drama featuring Aidan Turner, and in nearly every episode main characters Ross and Demelza visited at least once.
But concerns have been raised for several years that its popularity has come at a price.
During the summer, thousands of people from across the world headed to the picturesque harbour to make the most of its renowned and very popular restaurants and pubs.
One local said the popularity had been sparked by a combination of the Poldark effect and the decline in the number of pubs and restaurants in nearby St Austell, which had seen it become the centre for the night-time economy.
One said previously: ‘The quiet, world heritage, tall ships’ harbour which families visit during the day, changes after dark.
‘We’re not yet Cornwall’s Ibiza, but without careful supervision or management we could be.’
A spokesperson for St Austell Police said: ‘Parents are urged to make sure their children do not cause a nuisance and/or have a negative impact for residents or those attending the area for pleasure.
‘Our main priority is to keep everyone safe and maintain order.
‘The dispersal powers mean anyone causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, will be asked to leave the area by officers.
‘Anyone who does not comply with the order, risk be arrested or returned home.’
James Mustoe, Cornwall councillor for the area, welcomed the new police powers, adding: ‘This behaviour is unacceptable and I’m glad our police have acted quickly to clamp down on it.’
