Urban explorers urged to stop by police
BBCSo-called urban explorers are being urged to stop visiting abandoned buildings that could be dangerous, and often divert police resources from being used to tackle other crimes.
Devon and Cornwall Police said there were a number of sites across the region that were frequently targeted.
The force said some explorers were causing damage to buildings and putting themselves and others in potential danger, while some of those taking part claimed they were doing "nothing wrong".
PC Mike Smith called on them to stop: "Whilst we're having to constantly attend these buildings and secure them and remove people and deal with the damage inside, we can't be dealing with actual crime."
Among sites being targeted are empty buildings in Plymouth, Oldway Mansion in Paignton and the former Flambards amusement park in Helston.
Some explorers film their visits and put them on social media, including Dave and Sax who are both 18.
They recently explored Plymouth's 14-storey civic centre, which has been empty since 2015, and the former register office - empty since 2020 - and posted videos about them.
Sax said: "We're not doing anything illegal. We're just simply looking at these buildings which people have left abandoned, just to take our photos and document what's left.
"All these places tell a story, so really all we try and do is document it before these places are gone forever."
GoogleSmith, Plymouth city centre neighbourhood beat manager, explained that by entering the buildings the explorers were committing civil trespass and it was then the responsibility of the building's owner to take action if required.
Other aspects of the past-time risk breaking the law, he added.
"Whether it just be something as simple as graffiti tagging, all the way up to smashing windows, pulling down light fixtures or stealing copper piping, it's burglary and that's a criminal offence."
Sax was adamant they never caused any damage.
He said: "There's an unspoken rule in urban exploring... take only photos and leave only footprints, so we do really want to preserve these places as they were when we got there, or as they were when they closed."
Empty buildings can be dangerous and a 14-year-old boy was badly injured after falling through a skylight in Plymouth's abandoned former Debenhams store in February.
Sax also needed stitches after injuring his arm getting during a visit to the civic centre.
Plymouth City Council said: We have had several reports of people attempting to break into the civic centre and as a result have had to commission extra security – this costs money.
"The civic centre is currently a building site – we do not allow anyone onto the site unless they are fully kitted out in PPE, with the appropriate footwear and hard hats.
"We also require all visitors to have a site security briefing – this is because there are areas of the building that are currently out of bounds, where strip out work is ongoing and there is still asbestos present.
If that is not enough of a deterrent, there are specific areas where no-one – not even the construction team – is allowed to go, the floors are uneven, stairs unlit and there are empty lift shafts the entire height of the building – each of these presents a risk to anyone entering the building – including the emergency services who would have to rescue anyone who came to grief".
Smith also warned that while the buildings may be abandoned, they may always not be empty with evidence of alcohol and drug abuse from people living there often found when police attend.
He said: "We've got a young demographic of people who are accessing these buildings to explore. We've got then other people who are using these buildings to sleep in or take drugs in.
"These groups of people are mixing and we are going to end up seeing quite a serious incident, whether that be a serious assault, a rape or even a death."
Dave and Sax said they monitored buildings carefully before entering them and tried to minimise risks by carrying safety equipment and first aid kits.
"We try our best to do it safely, to make sure we don't end up having to carry anyone out of the building," Dave said.
They said urban explorers like them are being misrepresented when compared to vandals and other criminals.
"It annoys me," Sax said.
"We just want to preserve it, we just want to look at it. It's the same as going into a museum really, you go, you look, you don't damage anything. Why aren't we held to the same expectations?"
