The 6 ways you could be breaking the law at the beach – with fines up to £2,500

BRITS have flocked to the beach this week after temperatures in the UK hit as high as 34C.

But experts have warned how a trip to the seaside could see you fined as much as £2,500 for breaking some little-known laws.

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Legal specialists from BPP University Law School in London have put together the following list of laws that you could end up breaking while making the most of the summer weather at the beach.

1. Dropping rubbish

Dropping litter in public places in the UK is a criminal offence and also applies to beaches as well.

People who drop litter can face prosecution in court and can be fined up to £2,500 if convicted.

Those who are authorised to do so can also charge a person with a fixed penalty notice of up to £80 – so make sure to take it all home with you this weekend.

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2. Taking pebbles 

Beach visitors considering taking a few pebbles to remember their trip to the seaside might want to think again.

Under the Coastal Protection Act 1949, it is actually illegal to take any kind of natural materials from public beaches, and could land you with a fine of up to £1,000 if you are caught. 

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3. Dog walking 

During the summer months, as beaches get busier, a lot of councils around the UK impose restrictions on dogs on their beaches, under the Public Spaces Protection Order.

Owners who are caught breaking rules imposed by their local authorities could risk being fined £100, so it’s always best to check before heading to the seaside. 

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4. Having a BBQ

While it is perfectly legal to have BBQs on some beaches, a lot of local councils are now implementing their own rules that mean you cannot use disposable BBQs, in order to protect wildlife and reduce littering.

Having a single-use disposable BBQ on some beaches where they are not allowed could see you being given a £100 fine and it being confiscated. 

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5. Camping

Camping on beaches is illegal in most areas of the UK, in order to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Beaches will often be patrolled hourly and campers who refuse to move could be given fines of up to £1000, or even face prosecution in court. 

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6. Trespassing 

Most beaches are open to the public, but some around the UK are privately owned, and require permission for access from the owners.

Anyone found trespassing on a private beach without permission, runs the risk of being fined, and could face further legal consequences or prosecution if the offence is committed repeatedly. 

The UK is not the only place where you can get in trouble for some of the things on the list, with some lesser-known laws in Spain also leading to fines.

Holidaymakers have also been warned to be alert in Italy, where big fines have been handed out in recent years, for relatively small crimes.

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