Shoplifting

Location:
Bournemouth town centre (Old Christchurch Road, Commercial Road)

Describe the issue & its affects:

We continue to see reports of shoplifting in Bournemouth town centre, causing harm to the local community.

What action will you take to tackle the issue:

High visibility, hot spot policing

Working with partners such as CSAS and Town Rangers to target those causing most harm

Use of civil and criminal legislation to bring offenders to justice

Issued 01 April 2026

May update:
Last week we located a male who wasn't known to Dorset Police. He had committed a number of offences in various stores. Thanks to the quick actions of the neighbourhood team, when he tried to commit another offence, they promptly located him and arrested him. Despite his best efforts to give us false details, we managed to identify him and charge him with the offence. He had been responsible for over £3000 of thefts in a short period of time. Working with probation, he has been recalled to prison, hopefully to give some respite to our local business community.

April update:
The male previously mentioned in March update pleaded guilty to shoplifting offences. We has been remanded in custody pending a hearing on 28/04. We also undertook a day of action, supported by BCP Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) officers, Town Rangers, and The Bournemouth Improvement District (BID). This involved us utilising both plain clothes, and uniformed officers to identify offenders. Everybody was well behaved that day, so nobody was arrested for shoplifting offences, however, we undertook several stop and searches, and arrested 2 males for drugs related matters.


March update:
We continue to target prolific shoplifters. On 03/02/2026, an individual stole items to the value of £1653.80 belonging to Boots. He was quickly identified, arrested and charged with the offence. He has been remanded in prison, awaiting a crown court case on 26/03/2026.


Feb update:
Sadly, Granville Place, Bournemouth has continued to see reports of drug dealing and ASB over the last month. We regularly patrol the area. This falls within one of our regular hot spot patrols, where over the last 30 days, we have completed 22 patrols, compiling over 550 minutes. We will continue to target this area.

Actioned 01 July 2026

ASB street drinking & drug use

Location:
Purbeck Road, Bournemouth

Describe the issue & its affects:
Local residents have raised concerns regarding drug use and ASB in the Purbeck Road area of Bournemouth. This is causing harassment, alarm and distress for the local community.

What action will you take to tackle the issue:

High visibility patrols
Engagement with local businesses, educational establishments and residents
Utilisation of both civil and criminal legislation to target those committing offences

Issued 01 April 2026

May update:
We continue to patrol this on a regular basis. In the last 90 days, we have conducted 88 patrols in that hotspot, with nearly 2700 minutes of patrols. We have been able to self deploy to incidents of ASB, arrested 3 people, seized a knife and submitted intelligence. We also continue to engage with partners such as BCP ASB team to address specific addresses causes the most harm to the community.

Actioned 01 July 2026

Drug Dealing

Location:
Granville Place, Bournemouth

Describe the issue & its affects:

We have seen an increase in reporting of drug dealing in this area, impacting both local residents and businesses. The impact of drugs is well documented, linking to ASB.

What action will you take to tackle the issue:

High visibility patrols

Identifying those committing offences and utilising criminal and civil legislation to prevent further offending

Issued 01 April 2026

May update:
We continue to target those committing ASB, and causing the most harm to individuals. We support this by completing cuckoo checks to the most vulnerable people. Cuckooing is when criminals take over someone's home to use it as a base for crime. The victim's home may be used for dealing drugs, storing weapons, sex work or other illegal activities. By using the victim's home, the criminal hopes they can avoid the police. Utilising intelligence from the public, we conduct regular checks of vulnerable people to prevent such activity taking place.

In early April, we supported our Intelligence department in arresting a number of people linked to the supply of drugs in Bournemouth specifically linked to a county line. County lines is the name given to drug dealing where organised criminal groups (OCGs) use phone lines to move and supply drugs, usually from cities into smaller towns and rural areas. Three individuals were arrested; they were also released whilst the investigation continues.


April update:
In the last month, we have undertaken 17 patrols in the area, amassing a total of 450 minutes of patrols. During that time, we visited 30 local businesses, engaged with 62 people, arrested 1 nominal, and self-deployed to 3 ASB incidents. Sadly we continue to see drug dealing in the area. Please continue to support us by submitting intelligence through the Dorset Police website, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

March update:
We have continued to conduct patrols in the Granville Place area, completing over 723 minutes of high visibility patrols, conducted 2 stop & searches, issued 1 dispersal notice, gathered and submitted intelligence, and self-deployed to 4 ASB incidents whilst in the area. You can support us in our efforts by submitting any intelligence anonymously through the Dorset Police website or Crimestoppers.

Feb update:
We have been undertaking regular hot spot patrols in the areas, with 164 patrols in Old Christchurch Road and The Square in the last 30 days. This equates to over 4000 hours of patrols. We continue to work with partners to identifying those causing most harm to the local community, dealing robustly when they come to notice.

Actioned 01 July 2026