For the past few years, police in Espoo, Finland, have been using an unconventional method to prevent youths from partying on a local beach — blasting classical music from loudspeakers.
While there is no scientific evidence suggesting young people dislike classical music, the police in Espoo swear by its effectiveness.
This tactic has been employed for the past six years, particularly at the end of the school year when the beach in Espoo’s Haukilahti neighborhood becomes a hotspot for late-night youth gatherings.
Local authorities had tried various other methods to disperse these gatherings, but none worked as well as classical masterpieces like Strauss’ "The Blue Danube," Vivaldi’s "Four Seasons," and Schubert’s "Ave Maria."
Starting in early June, police blast classical music from loudspeakers on the beach to keep youths away after sunset.
“For some reason, classical music doesn’t appeal to young people, and they stay away from places where it is played,” Mikko Juvonen of the Western Uusimaa police department told Yle.
“It’s better for us to keep the youngsters on dry land, and it’s nice for families to come and swim here in the morning when the beach is clean.”
Before implementing the classical music strategy, Haukilahti was a popular spot for end-of-term parties, often leaving behind piles of litter and broken glass.
Now, thanks to this musical deterrent, Espoo police no longer have to worry about youths congregating and causing a mess on the beach.
