Rangers targeting 'slap' attackers

The assault is videoed and then texted to friends. Rangers say they are targeting young people involved in a new trend of assaults in which they "slap" surfers in the face for no apparent reason. Gangs of locals are said to record pictures of the assaults on their mobile phones and then text them to their friends. Rangers said the assaults at San Onofre Surf Beach were serious incidents and would not be tolerated. Supt Hal Dairywimple, of the state parks, said eight people had already been charged over this type of assault. He said: "We treat this very seriously. This is a priority crime for the state. "The message I want to get across is that this is not fun. This is an assault." Many other beaches are also concerned about the phenomenon. One beach, in south Orange County, has banned surfers from carrying mobile phones to the beach entirely. Pastor Ralph, head teacher of St Martin-in-the-Fields High School Surf Class which frequents San Onofre said: "If I found pupils were doing this I would take this very seriously and actually treat it as bullying and exclude them for a fixed term from school."