Magaluf Britons 'go mental and go home' with police 'very lenient' over antics

Updated

As two British police officers sent to Majorca to help deal with rowdy Britons on the party island prepare to clock off from duty, young holidaymakers have declared Magaluf is the place for people to "go mental and go home".

Bar worker Sean McCarthy, 18, said: "It is Magaluf, Shagaluf - people come here for the sex games.

"They have clamped down on that, but it is still a fantastic place to come and have a good time - everyone still loves it."

Two officers, sergeant Brett Williams and constable Martina Anderson from West Midlands Police, have been in the resort since Monday helping their Spanish counterparts deal with British tourists and reassuring holidaymakers.

While the police have worked in the day - to much criticism - youngsters have lit up Magaluf's hedonistic Punta Ballena strip at night.

But as young Britons - along with Italian, German, French, Spanish and Dutch tourists - enjoyed another night on the tiles, workers and holidaymakers in the resort defended its image and said there was little trouble.

They argued that Magaluf does not deserve its notorious reputation - with most declaring that it is no worse than a night out in the UK and is reforming its ways.

Between May and July this year there were just three arrests for prostitution, hawking, drug dealing and robbery compared to 23 last year, according to the Magaluf Hotel Association, figures it said are ratified by the Guardia Civil police.

New measures to crack down on anti-social behaviour have also limited bar crawls and banned street drinking after 10pm.

Despite an estimated fall of 50,000 youngsters against last year, Magaluf is still a Mecca for those who want a wild night out.

Dan Pearson, 19, from Surrey, thought having British police was a good thing, saying the officer they met "has got ethics, whereas the Spanish have got no morals".

But he said: "They should apply some of the rules to England, be a bit more lenient.

"Everyone comes out here to get mashed and just do what they want, otherwise we'd stay in England and get mashed.

"But because here they don't care, that's why we come here."

He also said he had seen people "peeing everywhere" and had heard about others "crapping on the street", but said the police do not really care.

"The police are very lenient," he said.

"If you're having a pee they don't care."

His friend Charlie Endean, also 19 and from Surrey, added that tourists are flouting rules brought in to combat anti-social behaviour, but that the police did little about it.

He said: "They are quite moody, the police out here - they do get a bit funny.

"They don't care about drinking in the streets. You don't even have to hide it, you can walk past with a drink and they don't care at all."

But as young Britons - along with Italian, German, French, Spanish and Dutch tourists - enjoyed another night on the tiles, workers and holidaymakers in the resort defended its image and said there was little trouble.

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