Recent stabbings in Bournemouth spark worries about town centre safety, prompting police and council action.
Two men were stabbed on Richmond Hill. This followed an argument, and both men went to the hospital with serious injuries.
A 21-year-old Bournemouth man was arrested. He’s suspected of causing grievous bodily harm and also had stab wounds. The other man is in his 30s, from Southampton. He is getting treatment, and his family knows about it. Police said a woman was assaulted but not hurt.
A witness said she feels unsafe now and thinks the area is full of crime. She has lived there since 1967 and thinks the town changed a lot. Issues cause shops to close, and crime is also rising there.
Police went to the Bournemouth Pavilion after people reported an assault there. Two police cars and two ambulances arrived at the scene. A woman was arrested but then later released.
A police spokesperson spoke about the event, stating that a man had fallen over, they found. He went to the hospital for treatment.
Armed police stopped a car that night and arrested two people at gunpoint because someone had stolen an air pistol. Four adults, including a baby, were in the car. It was a black Volvo XC90 on Ringwood Road near a Honda garage. The incident was on Monday evening, February 24.
Witnesses saw three adults exit the car with their hands in the air. It seemed like a tense situation.
Dorset Police arrested a 19-year-old from Poole suspected of theft and possibly having a weapon or knife. A 33-year-old Poole man was also arrested, suspected of having a weapon. Both remain in police custody now, and police are still investigating.
Bournemouth MPs are worried about crime and raised concerns to police and the council. Public fear is also making waves.
Jessica Toale and Tom Hayes are MPs. They mentioned good things about the town but also highlighted crime initiatives, including the Changes Are Made campaign, which started after a man was fatally stabbed.
Toale said violence is happening now, and knife crime is a worry. They must take it seriously and all work together. This helps understand why it’s happening.
Dorset Police data shows something surprising: reported stabbings in Bournemouth fell in 2024 compared to last year. Serious violent crimes fell almost 23 percent in the town center compared to last year’s data.
Toale wants to know why crime perception is high, even though the stats are improving. She runs a safety survey next week that will improve the town center. She will raise crime concerns and push for action on knife sales, as better youth crime prevention is needed.
Tom Hayes and Jessica Toale talked about Ronan’s Law, announced this week. It includes anti-knife crime measures. Retailers must report suspicious sales, and jail time for selling weapons to kids might increase to two years.
Hayes wants people to feel truly protected. The government announced new measures, which he thinks will help a lot.
The government wants to target town center crime and outlined a new bill on February 25.
The Crime and Policing Bill hopes to address issues, including antisocial behavior, theft, and violent crime. It plans 13,000 new policing roles and Respect Orders for offenders. Stricter penalties are in the plan, including knife crime, shoplifting, and assaults on retail workers.
David Sidwick, a Police and Crime Commissioner, knows violent crime is an issue in Dorset. He works with Dorset Police closely and partners across the county with local authorities. This ensures a robust approach to help deal with violent crime.
Sidwick says this is a key priority but that it is not just about policing. A partnership approach helps the most, which is happening in Dorset and seems to be making a difference.
He wants funding and a Violence Reduction Unit. It could enhance early intervention and prevention, protecting future generations early. Getting ahead of problems is important, and he wants all MPs to join him.
Cllr Kieron Wilson is involved. He is a BCP cabinet member, and housing and regulatory services are his concern. Violent crime worries the communities.
The council will keep working with Dorset Police to reduce crime more. Residents should be safe and reassured.