Police Beach at Koh Rong a dangerous place for the faint hearted tourists

The body of Amelia Bambridge was found at sea eight days after she was last seen on the island of Koh Rong.

The body of Amelia Bambridge was found at sea eight days after she was last seen on the island of Koh Rong. Supplied

The much touted and often popular Police Beach, located at Koh Rong island is many things to different visitors.

However, many warn that it is a dangerous place for the unsuspecting and faint hearted tourists as well as families who may want to venture there for a holiday or a night out.

“Police Beach has gained notoriety with numerous guests, something which even local law enforcement officials and some employees can confirm. It has everything which should be avoided such as binge drinking, drug usage and selling, unwanted accosting, dangerous access routes and filthy accommodations.

“One only has to check the many reviews posted in the web to learn for themselves the danger which lurks there. The beach was a once popular thriving place for party goers or for those who sought rave parties. But that is now a thing of the past as all the things said above is the norm nowadays and this is tragic given the place’s potentials,” one reveler who had experienced one night at police beach before fleeing the very next day to the mainland told Khmer Times.

Police Beach hit world headlines for the wrong reasons last year when a British backpacker tourist, 21-year-old Amelia Bambridge, went missing after her first night at the beach. Her body was found close to Thai territorial waters after an extensive search on land and at sea which lasted for more than a week.

Many questions are still unanswered as to how her body was found floating in the sea more than 50 kms from where her backpack was found on some rocks and why there were no witnesses.

“A timeline has yet to be established and although the cause of death was drowning, was a toxicology examination done on her body to give some clarity, if not all, on what and how it happened,” a police investigator who was involved in the initial investigations said, on conditions of strict anonymity.

“Was there for 5 mins paid 10 dollars , place full of zombies , drug fulled hippy type people . Was started on by two people within two mins who did not have a clue what planet they were on and just wanted to fight . Drugs used freely no security , no checks . Advertising drugs behind the bar . Say no more . Lack of access lighting to place,” a post by a former visitor to Police Beach said.

There are many more negative reviews. More to come.