Police have warned that bathers are inhaling nitrous oxide balloons on ‘an almost industrial scale’ on Bournemouth beach.
More than 20 officers have taken part in seaside patrols to try and stamp out the laughing gas epidemic at the Dorset holiday resort.
They have confiscated dozens of canisters containing laughing gas from groups of youths on the sand.
But the increased police presence has not deterred large groups from brazenly partaking in Class C drug use.
Yesterday (Wednesday) one group was seen passing around what appeared to be laughing gas balloons beside the pier, which is becoming a hot-spot for anti-social behaviour.
The police said that nitrous oxide gives the user a ‘brief high’ which leads to anti-social behaviour and disorder, ruining other people’s beach experience.
They say that most groups when challenged are ‘confrontational’ and ‘see no wrong in it’.
A Bournemouth Police spokesperson said: “For those that are unaware NOS is Nitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, or cool whip to some.
“It is consumed on an almost industrial scale by groups on the beach and leads to ASB and disorder, thanks to the brief high achieved.
“The 20 plus officers on patrol have spent most of their day dealing with this, as large groups descended on the beach.
“Their behaviour impacts locals, visiting families and those other here to have a good time and use the beautiful space we have on our door step.
“Most groups dealt with are confrontational, and see no wrong in consuming something that is classified as a Class C drug when used like this.”
The family-friendly holiday resort has acquired a ‘wild west’ reputation due to the levels of anti-social behaviour and violent incidents.
Last month’s disorder culminated in three officers being injured by missiles including glass bottles which were thrown at them by a baying mob of more than 100 youths.
One mother said she had to rescue her daughter from the beach ‘jungle’ during the disorder and claimed 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 hundreds of children, early and late teens.
“They are brawling, people are being pushed to the floor, bottles are being thrown.
“There is a lot of police presence. It is carnage.
“It’s very frightening, especially when you have children there, so I went to get my daughter.
“She is absolutely fine but she will not be going back to Bournemouth beach again.”
But Dorset Police said they have increased seafront patrols to deal with the rise in visitors during hot spells over the summer.
Chief Superintendent Julie Howe said: “During the summer we see a significant increase in visitors, and our neighbourhood teams are out and about tackling the crimes and issues that matter most to our communities.
“We enhance our resourcing where we see increased numbers of people, such as seafront areas and 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 they are tackling local issues, supporting vulnerable people or simply being a visible and reassuring presence, is something I am extremely proud of, and I am grateful for the trust they continue to build with the communities we serve.”
