An anonymous hate group has threatened to "bring shock and awe" to students using Falmouth's Gyllyngvase beach.

The so-called Falmouth Hates Students (FHS) group has sent an anonymous letter to the Packet offices for the second year in a row.

It states that members of the group will "bombard and challenge" students playing loud music and lighting open fires on the beach.

The author of the letter claims that the beach is "infested" with students from Spring onwards who break the law, and that "the police appear to be taking no action".

They also mention that the group had a "great campaign in 2018", although it does not go into any further detail about this.

Ian Thompson, Police Inspector for Falmouth and Helston, responded to the letter by saying: "The primary role of the police is to protect life and uphold the law. This applies to all segments of our communities and people have a right to enjoy a private life safely.

“I invite the lead for the Falmouth Hates Students group to contact me at Falmouth Police Station and engage with the Safer Falmouth partnership group in which we can consider the issues being experienced and formulate a balanced multi agency response so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of living in Falmouth without fear of discrimination.

“I do not condone and will not accept any member of the community taking matters into their own hands. Vigilante groups do not represent the wider community and could pose a risk to public safety and could risk police action against them.”

A spokesperson for the town's universities said: "Falmouth University and the University of Exeter condemn these threats. We have been working with the police to ensure this anonymous letter is being dealt with appropriately so that students and long-term residents alike are reassured about their safety.

"Both universities enjoy positive relationships with the community and are proud of being part of this thriving, welcoming and beautiful town."

Police investigations of the letter collected from the Packet offices in March 2018 yielded no further lines of enquiry.

Police have collected the second letter and will be carrying out another investigation.

Falmouth Packet:

The letter in full:

Falmouth Hates Students to set up direct action against unlawful student behaviour on town’s beaches

Action group Falmouth Hates Students (FHS) is focusing our activities in 2019 on the appaling [sic] take over of the town’s beaches by students.

From Spring onwards Gyllyngvase beach is infested with groups of students from Falmouth and Exeter Uni who play very loud music and then, regularly light open fires on the beach in the evening. Both these activities are against the law and against common decency. As nothing is being done to stop these offenders it falls to FHS to make their lives a misery in the same way these students are ruining the lives of decent Falmouth residents.

Open fires are banned on the beaches and the playing of excesive [sic] loud music that disturbs other people’s enjoyment of the beach is also against the law.

The police appear to be taking no action. Therefore FHS will fill the void.

Well behaving students have nothing to fear from FHS. Well behaved students are always welcomed by us.

But plans are made already to bombard and challenge offending students so that they no longer feel safe on the beach and are forced to retreat and change their ways.

FHS had a great campaign in 2018 and looks forward to greater activities to meet the ever-growing problem of more students flooding Falmouth and threatening to turning [sic] it into a student ghetto town. We will not let this happen, we will do whatever is required to police the town as it should be policed and bring shock and awe to the very large number of offending and offensive students.

As ever : Bad Students F*** Off