A growing TikTok trend involving the exploration of abandoned buildings has raised significant safety alarms in Weston-super-Mare. Avon and Somerset Police have reported multiple incidents of groups of young people breaking into disused buildings in both the town centre and Ashcombe area, partaking in what is known as urban exploration, or “urbex.”
In recent weeks, police have noticed a marked increase in calls related to these activities, which often involve large groups. Authorities warn that such explorations carry considerable risks including structural hazards, potential criminal damage, and an upsurge in anti-social behaviour.
The trend is fueled largely by social media content, with videos posted to platforms like TikTok and YouTube showcasing the decayed interiors, graffiti-covered walls, and precarious climbs within these derelict structures. Popular channels featuring sites around North Somerset and Bristol—such as the notorious Birnbeck Pier in Weston—have garnered substantial local youth followings. This immediate online exposure leads to rapid dissemination of new exploration sites among peer groups, resulting in swift increases in site visits.
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Police have expressed concern that these videos, while dramatic, inadvertently glamorise the activity and encourage imitation. Many of the targeted buildings are structurally unsafe and pose serious health and safety risks to trespassers. Furthermore, participants risk causing significant damage, imposing financial burdens on property owners and the local community.
The recent rise in urban exploration incidents coincides with ongoing efforts by Avon and Somerset Police to address youth anti-social behaviour in Weston. Since September, reports have included youths climbing scaffolding around the town centre and running across business rooftops—activities that amplify safety concerns for both the individuals involved and the wider public.
The police urge young people and their families to recognise the dangers posed by illegal exploration of hazardous sites and to seek safer, lawful activities instead.