Behaviour of Stag and Hen parties coming to Tenby has meant that officers from other parts of the division have to be drafted in at weekends to deal with the problem, Dyfed-Powys Police have revealed.

Senior police officers in Pembrokeshire admitted this week that they are becoming increasingly concerned about the 'unwarranted behaviour' of some individuals in Tenby as the resort's popularity as a venue for Stag and Hen parties increases.

They acknowledge that the whole of the county is a very popular tourist area with people from all over the United Kingdom and abroad, but "due to the tranquility of Tenby, it has become a very popular destination for those wishing to take full advantage off the pubs and nightclubs in the area."

This popularity, say the police, has increased the numbers of people coming to the town, particularly in the summer when the population of the area increases six-fold.

Some of these groups are "travelling considerable distances for these events" and the senior officers are concerned about the way some of these groups behave, with officers from other parts of the county having to be drafted in during 'peak' periods "to help combat some of the excessive behaviour."

Chief Inspector Roger Hughes, the officer responsible for policing operations in the county, said: "We have recently had to deal with increased levels of public disorder and other criminal behaviour.

"Whilst the vast majority of people coming to Tenby are well behaved, the sometimes irresponsible consumption of alcohol leads to offences being committed, including sexual assaults which are often committed by people who are not resident in the area."

The police confirmed that over the last week extensive enquiries had been carried out in relation to several incidents where "serious sexual assaults" had been reported

One of these involved a 17-year-old girl and, as a result of the enquiries, which were still ongoing as we went to press yesterday (Thursday), a group of 11 men from the South Wales area were arrested and interviewed in connection with the allegation.

Chief Inspector Hughes acknowledged the very high levels of support given to the police from the community in Tenby, particularly the local licensees who work with the local licensing team.

He went on to explain that in addition to extra officers, in order to police the area, other resources called upon at peak times included special constables, while "considerable assistance" was also provided by volunteer staff who operate the town's CCTV system from the police station.

"The intention of the police in Tenby is to maintain a good quality of life for its residents and visitors," the chief inspector continued, adding that the police "vigorously investigate reported crime" and have "considerable success in detecting a high proportion of serious offences."

"All that I ask is that people visiting Tenby take a responsible attitude to their behaviour, as failure to do so can have an adverse effect on the town and could lead to very serious personal consequences," he concluded