The council is working closely with the police and language schools to ensure that Bournemouth remains a safe town for students

Stephen Godsall Bournemouth Council

Some German children were attacked last weekend after being asked for cigarettes by a man and two teenagers.

Pc Bunn believes that foreign students, visiting language schools in the town, could be targeted because they were thought to be less likely to report problems.

He said: "We are kicking the idea around of trying to make an area that would be a safer beach for young foreign and British students, for example by increased police patrols using beach inspectors and CCTV."

It is also hoped a telephone, connected to the students' schools and to the police, could be installed at any haven site.

'Open mind'

Stephen Godsall, director of leisure and tourism at Bournemouth Council, said: "The council is working closely with the police and language schools to ensure that Bournemouth remains a safe town for students.

"This particular idea has not yet been discussed in any detail but we do have an open mind."

Pat Marchiori-White, principal of the Southbourne School of English, said she had known a few students to have problems with youths acting aggressively towards them.

She said: "I do not like the idea of segregation because students are here really to mix and find out about English people and culture, but if it is the only way they can feel safe and protected on the beach then it might be a good idea."