Tenby 'tombstoning' craze will end in fatality - charitable Trust states

A charitable trust that owns a building in the heart of Tenby harbour that provides accessible holiday accommodation for families with disabled children and young people with life-limiting illnesses, has slammed police and the Local Authorities for not acting effectively to prevent youths jumping off the roof of its building into the sea - stating that a ‘fatality’ will occur should this act of tombstoning not be dealt with.

The Harriet Davis Seaside Holiday Trust which caters for children and adults with disabilities and mobility needs, has further called for Dyfed-Powys Police to act on the situation, after youths continued to access the building to give them a vantage point to dive and jump in the water.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I have to report a serious failure by the Police, both at senior level and in the response from PCSO officers, to address the continuing tombstoning, criminal damage and dangerous access to the roof of Harriet Davis Seaside Holiday Trust,” stated the charity’s Senior Administrator, Carol Lincoln.

“The situation has now escalated significantly. This last month, as many as 24 young people on every high tide have been on our roof, jumping from the adjacent property into the sea and, in the process, causing continued and deliberate damage to the fabric of the building.

“We are now also experiencing youths hammering on our doors and windows as they climb onto and descend from the roof.

“This is understandably terrifying for the vulnerable families staying inside the property.”

One day this month, the Trust said that a family staying at the property reported an incident by telephone, only to be told that nobody would be attending.

However, when PCSO officers attended the following day, the family were apparently simply told to remove the bins that the kids were climbing on to access the roof.

“I find this response extremely disappointing, particularly following the very positive meeting we had last month with PC Stephen Morris from the Dyfed-Powys Crime Prevention Design Out Team, PS Samantha Dawson and her colleagues at Tenby Police Station,” continued Carol.

“That meeting gave us considerable hope that the seriousness of the situation was finally being recognised and that a coordinated approach would be taken.

“We removed the bins for a week as a trial to see whether this would prevent access. It did not.

“Instead, the youths simply stole fuel bins from the harbour and used those instead!

Carol said that The Trust has done everything it has been asked to do by the Local Authorities, but they are not keeping their word on acting on reports.

“For more than four years, we have repeatedly reported this problem and have had countless communications and meetings with the Police, and other relevant organisations,” she continued.

“We have followed the advice given to us and have taken every reasonable step within our means to prevent access to the roof.

“This has included installing anti-climb paint and rows of plastic anti-climb spikes across the whole roof and three access points. We have also spent thousands of pounds repairing damage to the roof.

“Despite this, the problem has continued and is now escalating.

“The young people are deliberately smearing the anti-climb paint over our external walls and are progressively ripping the plastic spikes from the roof. This is causing serious and continuing damage to the fabric of the building.

“Our meetings earlier this year gave us genuine hope that a coordinated and preventative approach would finally be put in place.

“PS Dawson advised that tide times would be monitored and, wherever possible, Police and PCSO attendance would be made available at the relevant times.

“This is particularly important because the activity presents an extremely serious danger to life — both to the young people jumping from the roof and to fishing and other boats which may unfortunately be in the water below them.

“Sadly, this has not happened consistently.

“The jumping generally takes place at predictable high tides. However, recently there has been no Police presence when the young people have arrived. Officers have sometimes attended only after the tide has fallen, or not attended at all.”

Pembrokeshire Council have sought ways to try and prevent youths from accessing the harbour pier during high tides, after a series of safety concerns were raised by boat operators, over youths jumping off the end, and at times deliberately in the line of vessels.

One boat operator reported that on one occasion, five teenagers jumped from the pier directly in front of his vessel, with one shouting ‘bomb the boat!’

Anti-social behaviour concerns were also raised, with teenagers congregating down the pier, drinking and then diving in the sea, along with ‘boy racers’ parking up on the end of the pier.

A planning application put forward by Pembrokeshire County Council to install a permanent metal swing gates on Tenby Harbour pier were refused by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority in May 2025.

The refusal came after objections highlighted that the overly industrial design would visually harm the Grade II listed pier and the Tenby Conservation Area.

Instead, Pembrokeshire Council resorted back to the temporary gate this past two summers to try and alleviate the situation, but all it has seemingly done, is push those wishing to jump in the sea to other parts of the harbour, even at times, from the old lifeboat station.

The Trust says that it has continued to report all incidents as requested; as well as taking further action themselves.

A solution is currently being designed involving a one-metre-high fence around the internal perimeter of the roof. The intention is to make it significantly more difficult for anyone to gain access.

The Trust has commissioned a quotation and design, which will be submitted to Building Conservation Officer at the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA), for consideration.

At the meeting to discuss the ongoing issues, The Trust states that it was also agreed that Pembrokeshire County Council’s Community Safety Team would be made aware of the increasing seriousness and deepening nature of this crisis; and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park would be contacted by the Police regarding the proposed preventative measures.

However, as of last week, according to the Trust, Mr Scourfield PCNPA had not received any contact from the Police regarding this matter.

The Trust states that it has also heard nothing from the PCC’s Community Safety Team.

“Our visitors are not tourists coming to the town for entertainment. Most of our visiting families come from Wales, and some are local families,” explained Carol.

“They are parents and carers looking after children and young people who may have profound disabilities, complex medical needs or life-limiting conditions. Many families are only able to have a holiday because our properties provide the specialist equipment and facilities they require.

“For many of them, this is an extremely precious opportunity to spend time together and create positive family memories in circumstances where ordinary holidays are simply not possible.

“Instead, they are increasingly finding themselves frightened and distressed by young people climbing onto the roof, banging on doors and windows and shouting as they gain access to and descend from the building.

“This is completely unacceptable.

“What was once an occasional problem has now developed into a significant and increasingly popular activity, with ever larger groups accessing our roof.

“As PS Dawson has already pointed out, the greater the number of people jumping or even simply accessing our roof, the greater the possibility of a fatality.

“This risk is now very real.

“PC Stephen Morris has already indicated that he believes considerably more can be done by the appropriate authorities. He has also made clear that the current harbour gate is not an effective deterrent.

“We therefore feel that this situation has moved far beyond an issue of occasional antisocial behaviour.

“It is now a serious and escalating public safety issue involving criminal damage, deliberate trespass, risk to life and the welfare of vulnerable families staying within our properties.”

The Trust is now asking the Police, Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and the other relevant stakeholders to work with them to take meaningful preventative action.

“We cannot wait until somebody is seriously injured or killed before this is treated with the urgency it deserves,” remarked Carol.

“Finally, I would ask that the consequences for our families are considered alongside the risks to those participating in the tombstoning.

“Our families have done nothing wrong. Their only wish is to have a peaceful and cherished holiday with their profoundly vulnerable loved ones.

“They should not have to be frightened, distressed or intimidated inside their holiday accommodation because a dangerous and increasingly popular activity is taking place on the roof above them,” she added.

County Councillor for Tenby’s North ward, Cllr Michael Williams concurred that the situation was now becoming out of hand, and causing huge distress to families who often have severely disabled and vulnerable children staying in the property.

“I find it disappointing that despite numerous meetings no progress has been made in addressing the matter,” stated Cllr Williams in correspondence sent to both Dyfed-Powys Police and Pembrokeshire County Council.

“There is a genuine fear that there could be a fatality if this activity is allowed to continue.

“In my opinion at the very least criminal damage is being caused by these youths and they are they are trespassing with intent, and I would ask that you consider taking action on these specific activities.

“This amazing charitable organisation provides a unique opportunity for families who often have to contend with some of the most distressing circumstances conceivable and they deserve the support of everyone concerned.

“The Trust and their guests are being let down by the inability or unwillingness of organisations they should be able to rely on to effectively address these activities,” he added.