The iconic UK seaside town with 'no-go zones' and locals too scared to go out after dark

A celebrated seaside municipality which attracts millions of visitors a twelvemonth has a sinister broadside with "no-go areas" wherever locals won't sojourn astatine night.

Famed for its iconic pier, sandy beaches and lively centre afloat of revellers from stag and hen parties, Bournemouth successful Dorset appears for immoderate to beryllium losing its long-held estimation arsenic a destination for wholesome household fun.

Personal trainer Amie Gray, 34, was fatally stabbed and Leanne Miles knifed successful an alleged execution and attempted execution astatine Durley Chine Beach, West Undercliff Promenade, connected May 24.

Ms Gray, from adjacent Poole, died astatine the country portion Ms Miles was taken to infirmary aft suffering superior injuries. Nasen Saadi, 20, from Croydon, southbound London, has pleaded not blameworthy to Ms Gray's execution and to the attempted execution of Ms Miles.

A teenage lad was injured successful Pier Approach arsenic precocious arsenic July 30 successful an alleged battle not linked to the reported attacks connected May 24.

In a angiosperm furniture successful Bournemouth municipality centre, a makeshift memorial tin beryllium recovered adjacent the spot wherever teen Cameron Hamilton died aft an altercation successful the aboriginal hours of August 5, 2023. He was lone 18.

Thomas Betteridge, besides 18, was cleared of execution aft claiming self-defence, but helium was convicted of manslaughter and possession of a weapon astatine Bournemouth Crown Court. Betteridge was sentenced to 9 years with 3 much connected licence.

Amid heightened fears astir a transgression question successful the town, Bournemouth locals Harvey Griffiths and Emma Loe told Express.co.uk they would beryllium moving retired arsenic soon arsenic they can.

Harvey said: "It's not a harmless spot anymore. The municipality centre is the worst spot (for transgression and antisocial behaviour), and Gardens."

Emma added: "It's nicer successful the day. At nighttime clip it's unsafe astir the municipality and the beach. It's scary."

Ch Supt Heather Dixey, Dorset Police Commander for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, said: "Bournemouth remains a harmless spot successful which to live, enactment and visit. However, similar immoderate ample municipality area, we bash person transgression and anti-social behaviour, which we are tackling and reducing."

She added the influx of visitors successful summertime tin summation demand, but the unit boosts serviceman numbers during the season. The serviceman said feedback from locals showed dedicated patrols astatine the Lower Gardens and different hotspots person made "a existent difference".

Figures from Dorset Police amusement its officers made 21 arrests, carried retired 33 halt and searches and issued 16 dispersal notices implicit the summer. The unit reported a 24 percent driblet successful the fig of superior convulsive offences successful the municipality centre compared to past year.

Knife offences successful the municipality centre fell from 40 betwixt April and July 2022 to 34 successful the aforesaid play past twelvemonth and 31 successful 2024, according to Dorset Police.

A spokesperson for the unit said: "Over the summertime months this twelvemonth determination were conscionable 2 stabbing incidents successful the municipality centre, some of which resulted successful insignificant injuries."

But immoderate residents, holidaymakers and daytrippers successful Bournemouth told Express.co.uk they won't beryllium enactment disconnected visiting the municipality centre contempt their information concerns.

Carol Smith and Sandra Davies, some 60, were visiting the edifice wherever they person holidayed since childhood.

Travel cause Carol, from Rugby, said: "We went for a repast successful municipality past night. It was a spot scary to beryllium honorable - groups of large men - they were a spot intimidating. It doesn't consciousness safe, particularly for women."

Nevertheless, Carol said she would inactive sojourn Bournemouth, adding: "I emotion it here."

Pensioner Mick Jones, from Christchurch, blamed the evident diminution connected Bournemouth's nighttime clip economy, with punters filling the resort's bars, pubs and clubs earlier spilling retired onto the streets.

He said: "It's a spot worrying astatine night. There are a batch of drunks. They look to cater for that present with stag and hen dos."

Kieron Wilson, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services astatine Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, said the municipality welcomes astir 10 cardinal visitors a year, who travel to bask its award-winning beaches, municipality centre and gardens.

He added: "The immense bulk acquisition nary transgression oregon anti-social behaviour whilst successful our area. Statistically, we are 1 of the safest places successful the state to unrecorded successful and visit.

"But we recognize that the mode radical consciousness erstwhile they are successful our municipality is important too. This is wherefore we proceed to enactment hard, alongside our partners astatine Dorset Police, connected measures to trim [antisocial behaviour, ASB].

"These see expanding our days of enactment and assemblage engagement, promoting weapon transgression consciousness amongst young radical and ensuring much assemblage information assembly offers are retired determination connected patrols.

"We are not complacent, but we are encouraged to spot that affirmative initiatives specified arsenic these are moving and person led to a simplification of ASB successful Bournemouth municipality centre implicit the past year."

Despite residents and visitors' concerns, enactment for Bournemouth was expressed by respective radical successful the town, immoderate of whom said they person holidayed determination for decades, but who privation the spot could regain its erstwhile glory. Others hailed the municipality outright.

Bob Bannister, 80, from Swindon, Wiltshire, said helium has visited for astir 30 years. The retired diesel mechanic said: "It's arsenic bully arsenic anywhere. Everywhere is struggling a bit, but Bournemouth - I'm rather pleased with it."

Lynda Pople, 83, from Leicester, was visiting with family. She said of the town: "It's a beauteous place. This full seashore has a batch of memories for us."