DORSET Police were forced to use PAVA spray to disperse crowds after fights broke out on Bournemouth beach on Friday evening.

Two arrests were made and three dispersal orders were handed out in two separate incidents on the seafront, where officers used the incapacitant spray to disband the mass of gathering beachgoers.

Officers were first called to the beach at 4.37pm on Friday July 31, 2020 to a report of a fight to the east of Bournemouth Pier.

Two teenagers were given a section 35 dispersal notice requiring him to leave the area, whilst a 24-year-old man from the Wareham area was arrested and received a conditional caution for using offensive language towards the officers.

A spokesman said: “Dorset Police was called at 4.37pm on Friday July 31 2020 to a report of a fight on the east side of Bournemouth Pier.

“Officers attended and a teenage male was detained and subsequently given a section 35 dispersal notice requiring him to leave the area.

“A 16-year-old girl was also given a section 35 dispersal notice.

“A 24-year-old man from the Wareham area was arrested and received a conditional caution for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence.”

Less than three hours later, a 16-year-old girl from Southampton were arrested on Bournemouth beach after another fight broke in the same area.

The teenager has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

A second 16-year-old girl from Southampton was given a section 35 order dispersal notice where she was directed to leave and not return for up to 48 hours.

When crowds gathered around police during the incident, an officer used the incapacitant spray to break up crowds.

Beachgoers congregating closely around officer as they attempted to detain an individual close to Bournemouth Pier, leading them to use the PAVA spray due to the "increased level of threat to the police officer and members of the public".

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “At around 7.25pm on Friday July 31, 2020 a report of a fight was received in the area of Bournemouth Pier.

“A 16-year-old girl from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency services worker. She has been released under investigation.

“A second 16-year-old girl from Southampton was given a section 35 order dispersal notice requiring her to leave the area.

“Enquiries are ongoing into the incident.

“During the incident, as a result of the increased level of threat to the police officer and members of the public by the crowd, an officer deployed PAVA in order to assist in lawfully detaining an individual.”