Hannah Knight

A person suffered serious injuries after falling down steps at Durdle Door. Coastguard teams, the South Western Ambulance Service, local rangers and a rescue helicopter coordinated the response, clearing the beach and establishing a landing site. The casualty was airlifted to the car park and transferred to a land ambulance for hospital treatment.

Bournemouth Grays Ladies Futsal Club has been founded in memory of Amie Gray, who was killed in a stabbing attack at Durley Chine Beach in May 2024. Gray had joined the mostly beginner team, coached and encouraged its players to pursue the National Futsal League. The team eventually achieved that goal, travelled to an international tournament in Strasbourg, and recorded wins and a notable draw against Southampton Athletic. Co-founder Jo Baker said the club’s purpose is to honour Gray’s character, friendships and determination rather than focus solely on results.

Pokesdown station in Bournemouth is scheduled to become step-free, with construction of two lifts due to start in October 2026 and completion expected in early 2028. South Western Railway, Network Rail Wessex and the Department for Transport will convert disused goods lift shafts into accessible lifts, while the station remains open during most of the work. The project is backed by nearly £3 million in government funding after local campaigning, although BCP Council withdrew £2.6 million because of rising costs and long delays. Proposed expansion of AFC Bournemouth’s stadium could bring additional station improvements, including new entrance doors and wider access.

Rough sleeping in Bournemouth town centre fell from 50 people in March 2025 to 40 in March 2026, an 18 per cent reduction, according to BCP Council. Council leader Millie Earl attributed the progress to the work of homelessness teams and partners including the YMCA and St Mungo’s, while noting that national austerity has increased homelessness over the past 15 years. Earl also said no families had remained in bed-and-breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks. The council’s prevention service assisted about 1,500 households in the previous year and helped more than 200 remain in their homes.

BCP Council trading standards officers seized 123,370 illegal vapes, 976,940 cigarettes and 286kg of hand-rolling tobacco during the last financial year, with an estimated retail value of £1,105,879.50. The council says it is targeting businesses that break the law and taking further action. Chief executive Aidan Dunn also highlighted joint seafront operations involving council officers, Dorset Police and the RNLI, supported by around 1,300 CCTV cameras monitored around the clock.

Police carried out high-visibility, heathland and rural patrols across Wimborne, Corfe Mullen, Colehill and Sturminster Marshall, alongside house-to-house enquiries linked to ongoing investigations. Officers also engaged with young people at a community event with local partner organizations. The Wimborne Neighbourhood Policing Team announced a mobile police station at the Allendale Centre on August 11, offering residents an opportunity to raise concerns and seek crime-prevention advice.

Trains from Bournemouth to Southampton Central have been cancelled because of a possible obstruction between Hinton Admiral and New Milton. South Western Railway expects delays and cancellations to continue until the end of the day, although the nature of the obstruction has not been confirmed. Passengers are advised to check journey planners, and tickets can be used at no extra cost on CrossCountry services between Basingstoke and Bournemouth.

Dorset Police have warned churches in the Christchurch area to improve security after thieves stole lead flashing from a church, causing more than £1,000 in theft and damage. Churches are frequent targets for valuable metals, and police recommend measures including gates, lighting, CCTV, roof alarms and forensic marking. Communities are urged to report suspicious activity and unusual sales of lead or other metals, with police noting that a 2020 theft in mid-Dorset caused losses exceeding £60,000.

An Uber courier became suspicious when asked to collect a mobile phone delivered to a Ferndown resident and contacted Dorset Police. The delivery was part of a courier fraud scheme in which criminals impersonated EE representatives, used compromised personal and financial details to obtain a handset, and then tried to reclaim it before the victim realised they had been targeted. Police attended quickly, protected the resident and prevented the fraud from progressing, while urging people to be cautious about unexpected calls, deliveries and requests involving money or personal information.

A small fire broke out at West Moors Plantation late on Monday night. Dorset Police were alerted at approximately 10:45 p.m. on July 27 and are appealing for witnesses who saw suspicious activity, people gathering in the plantation or anyone leaving around the time of the blaze. The public is advised to move to safety and call 999 rather than attempt to tackle fires in woodland or open countryside. The plantation has experienced previous fires, including a 2020 blaze believed by firefighters to have been started deliberately.

A community speed indicator device in Corfe Mullen has been vandalised for the second time in recent weeks, leaving it out of action pending repairs. Corfe Mullen Town Council condemned the damage and said the repair costs would again fall on the community. The device does not issue fines or collect personal information, and residents were asked to report vandalism of council property to Dorset Police.

A woman reported that a naked man performed an indecent act near her at The Dingles woodland in Westbourne on July 9. The unidentified man was described as a white male aged 25 to 35, around six feet tall, with medium-dark blonde, jaw-length wavy hair. He left after she threatened to call police, and she has since said she feels unsafe outdoors alone. Dorset Police found no suspect, and said the incident was unrelated to a separate welfare concern involving an elderly man at Bourne Valley Nature Reserve.

Dorset Police will take no further action after a woman reported being inappropriately touched over her clothing at The Blackwater Stream pub in Broadstone. Following a CCTV appeal, a man came forward for a voluntary interview. Police reviewed the footage and his account before concluding the case.

A large fire spread across three cut fields in Coombe Keynes, prompting deployment of eight fire crews and specialized equipment from multiple nearby stations. Smoke was visible from Dorchester and Weymouth, and crews used multiple hose reel jets to contain and surround the blaze. The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the fire had been brought under control.

Oceanarium staff report harassment and intimidation by protesters whom they accuse of spreading false claims about animal welfare. Dorset Animal Action denies the allegations, maintaining its demonstrations are peaceful and based on broader concerns. The Oceanarium rejects accusations of poor welfare, stating that most animals are bred in captivity or rescued and that euthanasia would only occur for severe veterinary reasons. Local authorities confirm no licence issues, and police acknowledge awareness of protest activity.

A Bournemouth resident recovering from severe injuries sustained in a 2017 motorbike crash in Vietnam says ongoing pain and inconsistent NHS care have left him struggling mentally and unable to work. After returning to the UK, he reports worsening leg spasms, cancelled appointments, limited follow‑up, and difficulty seeing the same GP, contributing to frustration and distress. Local medical organisations declined to comment on his concerns.

Prosecutors dropped a 19‑year‑old affray case against Samir Ouartani after the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it would not proceed, prompting the judge to enter a not guilty plea and dismiss the case due to lack of evidence. A warrant had been outstanding since 2007, and no explanation was provided by the CPS, which did not respond to requests for comment.

Missed food waste collections across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have left bins overflowing with maggots in hot weather, prompting residents to warn of health risks. Locals reported weeks of uncollected waste, with some resorting to insecticide or disposing of food in general rubbish. BCP Council attributed the disruption to operational challenges and prolonged heat but said only a small percentage of households experienced repeated missed collections. Residents expressed frustration with long wait times for reporting issues and uncertainty about when waste would be collected.

Two Bournemouth teenagers were arrested in Christchurch after reportedly threatening a man with a knife, prompting concerns among local workers and business owners about rising youth disorder. Residents described increasing incidents involving teenagers, including vandalism and threats, and urged stricter police action and greater parental responsibility. The victim was unharmed, but business owners reported repeated damage to shops in recent months and growing fear about late‑night youth behaviour.

Dorset Police report improved outcomes in tackling retail crime, achieving shoplifting case success rates more than double the national average through collaboration with businesses and expanded use of the NiCE digital evidence platform. Operation Shopkeeper targets repeat offenders, including a Criminal Behaviour Order placed on prolific shoplifter Charlie Carr. Police leaders emphasize ongoing cooperation with retailers and the importance of reporting incidents, while the Police and Crime Commissioner welcomes the progress and urges wider use of digital reporting tools.

An 18‑year‑old man, Ashton Lennon, appeared via video link at Poole Magistrates’ Court charged with grievous bodily harm with intent after allegedly stabbing a man during a dispute over alcohol on Bournemouth beach. Prosecutors described the injury as a serious stab wound, with CCTV showing prior interactions between the groups involved. The victim was taken to hospital with non‑life‑threatening injuries. The case has been sent to Bournemouth Crown Court for an August hearing.

An 18-year-old man from Bournemouth, Ashton Lennon, has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent following a stabbing near Pier Approach. Police responded quickly, locating two suspects, with the second man released on bail as enquiries continue. The victim, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police urge the public to avoid online commentary that could affect court proceedings and continue to appeal for information through Dorset Police or Crimestoppers.

An Italian restaurant in Bournemouth town centre, L’Angolo Italian Kitchen, closed six months after opening and is now listed for sale with a £75,000 lease. The venue, located at a prominent Richmond Hill corner site, had previously announced a temporary closure due to an electrical issue. A Zoopla listing confirms the unit is available, situated close to Bournemouth Square among shops and residential properties.