Police investigate whether beach brawls were 'organised' on social media

In short:

Videos have emerged online of people fighting at Glenelg and Henley Beach, with hundreds of teens spectating.

Police say a small number of individuals were involved in the fights as others watched on but most of the crowd had dispersed when officers arrived.

What's next?

Acting Assistant Commissioner David O’Donovan says police are examining various social media platforms to identify the level of organisation behind the brawls.

Police are looking to identify individuals behind social media accounts and their "level of organisation" after videos emerged of public fights along Adelaide's metropolitan beaches on Tuesday.

SA Police said the incidents occurred yesterday at Glenelg and Henley Beach.

Several videos posted on social media showed people in separate brawls on the Glenelg shore and at Henley Square, watched on by hundreds of young people.

Other clips showed large groups of youths running across roads in front of traffic.

In one online video, a woman who tried to break up two boys wrestling on the beach was pelted with water bottles.

Acting Assistant Commissioner David O'Donovan said police attended Henley Square after receiving reports of an affray but most of the crowd had dispersed when officers arrived.

"Investigations indicate there are a small number of individuals involved in fighting activity, with the majority of the young people attending as spectators after being alerted to the activity on social media," he said in a statement.

"Police investigations into yesterday's reported incidents of fighting at Glenelg and Henley Beach are ongoing with Western District officers examining various social media platforms to identify the level of organisation behind the incidents and to identify and locate those responsible."

SA Police said adequate police resources were deployed yesterday to attend to increased crowds at the beach, where the mercury climbed over 34 degree Celsius in Adelaide.

Acting Assistant Commissioner O'Donovan said police are considering bringing forward "Operation Jericho" — an initiative where police address crime and public disorder along the metropolitan coast in summer.

"Anti-social behaviour at public locations that impacts the wellbeing of the community will not be tolerated,"

he said.

"Police have had no reports of any assaults or injuries as a result of the incidents."

City of Charles Sturt Mayor Angela Evans told 891 ABC Adelaide reports of last night's incidents were "concerning".

"I really do appreciate that those incidents create a great deal of concern … no one wants to be caught up in that kind of thing,"

she said.

"We've got CCTV across Henley Square which we installed earlier this year, that gives us real-time footage that's accessible not only to us, but also to SAPOL that can be reviewed quickly."

The mayor said Henley Beach was generally a peaceful place to attend.

A listener who called into 891 ABC Adelaide said she was at Henley Beach last night for a walk and witnessed "disgraceful" behaviour.

"Groups of teenagers walking around with no regard for traffic on the road or other people trying to use the space," she said.