Disorder has broken out on Bournemouth beach as large crowds gathered during the hottest May day ever recorded in the UK.
Dorset Police said on Tuesday evening that officers were dealing with “disorder involving a large number of people” in the Undercliff Drive area of the beach. The force added that there were reports that officers had been assaulted.
“Officers are at the scene, with assistance from the NPAS helicopter, and we are making arrests and working to disperse those involved,” the force said. “It has been reported that officers have been assaulted and we would like to make it extremely clear that this behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Callaghan said: “I would like to thank the law-abiding members of the public for their support, but I am sending a clear message to those who are intent on causing harm or using violence to leave the vicinity.
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“There will be a large police presence in the area while we seek to keep the public and our officers safe. We have commenced an investigation into the disorder and we will continue to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. I would also like to thank our officers for their professional and courageous actions during this incident.”
It comes as the UK has recorded its hottest day in May on record on Tuesday, with temperatures soaring to 35C at Heathrow and Kew Gardens in London, according to the Met Office.
The provisional figures recorded on Tuesday came after a scorching bank holiday weekend that saw the UK break its previous record for the hottest May temperature. On Monday, Kew Gardens reached 34.8C, beating the previous record of 32.8C set in 1922 and 1944.