EXCLUSIVE Our seaside town was once a paradise, but it is being destroyed by feral youths on e-scooters who have transformed it into a haven for drugs, where people urinate on beach huts and embed bongs in the sand

Daily Mail​

20-05-2025

A once paradisiacal seaside town is being terrorised by feral youths on e-scooters who urinate on huts and inhale nitrous oxide filled balloons, according to locals who say they are living in fear of going out at night.
Lifelong Bournemouth residents say the beachfront has been turned into a lawless society with antisocial behaviour, knife crime, theft, and drug deals happening in plain sight.
A waft of cannabis often lingers over the promenade where walls are covered in graffiti, while on the sandy beach brazen young tourists are apparently inhaling nitrous oxide balloons in front of sunbathers and families.
Meanwhile, a bong stands upright embedded in the golden sands like King Arthur's Excalibur.
Businesses are also bearing the brunt with a local bakehouse being treated like a self-service buffet by crooks who raid its sandwiches and swipe its charity box.
The opening last November of the upmarket Ivy restaurant next to a Tesco Express was heralded as the dawn of a new era for the beleaguered town.
A jaw dropping 12,000 bookings had been made before the ribbon was cut with dates filled up with names for four months.
Yet while they munch on their expensive meals in the surrounds of luxury, mere metres away a phone box has been turned into a makeshift public toilet.
The outgoing deputy mayor last week bemoaned the demise of Bournemouth since lockdown saying it now resembles a tip and urged for a widespread clean-up.
Elsewhere in the town centre and the nearby beach there was evidence when MailOnline visited of a lack of investment and civic pride.
Graffiti can be seen covering walls, benches and tourist information signs while the once immaculate pleasure gardens are now tatty and unkempt.
The majority of town centre shops are almost permanently bordered up as High Street chains have long pulled out of the area.
There is also plenty of evidence of recreational drug taking by brazen users in the open.
Drug deals can often be seen taking place in the gardens while the smell of cannabis regularly wafts along the promenade by the beach.
Deputy mayor Anne Filer pointed to broken park benches, smashed glass, graffiti, overgrown bushes and the ever-present smell of cannabis in the air for making the once proud Victorian resort look more like 'a tip'.
Mrs Filer, who became a councillor in 1999 and has twice been mayor of Bournemouth, said: 'All I want is for the town to look clean and tidy again for both the locals and all the tourists who come here.
The opening last November of the upmarket Ivy restaurant next to a Tesco Express was heralded as the dawn of a new era for the beleaguered town
'So many of the fences along the cliff are broken, there is graffiti everywhere, plants and bushes are overgrown, verges need trimming back.
'We have to acknowledge that people like coming here but it looks like a tip.
'There has been so much deterioration since lockdown as everyone's way of life changed.'
Bournemouth resident Chris Shetler, 74, said: 'The Ivy is nice to have but it's not going to change anything. The town has changed so much over the years for the worse.
'So many smaller businesses are shutting up shop because they just can't afford to stay open and that puts more people on the streets which just makes everything worse.
'The only businesses we seem to have are barbers, coffee shops and nail salons. It's not the same as when it used to be full of independent, local businesses.'
Production planner Stuart Henderson, 53, said: 'I see antisocial behaviour on the beach constantly.
'The worst people are those that blast loud music from their speakers all day. The other ones are those who whizz by on their electric scooters with no regard for others.
Graffiti as been etched on the side of one beach hut. One hut owner felt he was one of the 'lucky ones' as knows of people whose huts have been broken into
'The place has changed dramatically over the years. Whenever I used to tell people that I lived in Bournemouth they would say "how lucky". No-one says that anymore.
'Some of the youths are just feral. I've had people urinating on the back of my beach hut. It's disgusting and just stinks.
'To be honest I think I'm one of the lucky ones. I know people whose huts have been broken into and others which are covered in graffiti. People just don't have respect anymore.
'Bournemouth has one of the nicest beaches out there, nicer than lots you see in Spain and other parts of Europe but the people here just can't be controlled.
'It's nice that The Ivy has moved into the town but I don't think it will change anything. Perhaps it could inspire other more upmarket businesses to come into the town.
'I saw some people having a nice dinner in The Ivy a few days ago, probably cost them about £200 and less than 10m away there was one of the druggies having a p**s in a phone box.
'That's not really the view you want when you're trying to enjoy a posh dinner.'
The manager of Cornish Bakehouse, Karolina, added: 'The antisocial behaviour and shoplifting is a constant issue. People just come in and take what they want and treat it like a bit of a self-service buffet and there's nothing that we can really do.
'I have lived in Bournemouth for over 20 years and it has got so much worse recently, but what can we do about it? We have it on CCTV and file it to the police but they don't do anything if it's less than £70 and a sandwich or a drink doesn't cost that much.
'One guy came in the other week and took our charity box. I'm not sure how much was in there, less than £70, but who does that?
'I don't go out after 6pm anymore by myself. I just think we need more police patrolling the area.
'I think part of the problem is having rehab centres so nearby that everyone just filters out onto the streets. If they moved them away from the town centre then maybe it would be different.'
Burger van owner Clark Davies, 34, said: 'I have seen people pulling knives, shouting, swearing, fighting, everything down here. And that's just in the last two weeks.
'We have the beach which is just a fantastic resource, especially on a day like this, and we want to be able to sell it and get the tourists in.
'I just think they need to spend a little bit more money to tidy the place up and make it more welcoming for people. The town is a nice place to live but we need to show it off.
'The real problem in my opinion is 15 to 19 year olds. That's the worst age group but I don't know what can be done about it.'
The outgoing deputy mayor last week bemoaned the demise of Bournemouth since lockdown saying it now resembles a tip and urged for a widespread clean-up
Two women are pictured leaving The Ivy restaurant in Bournemouth
Floyd Gordon, manager of Jerk Hut Catering near Bournemouth Pier, said: 'I have heard about a lot of antisocial things but can't say I've really seen anything although maybe I'm just an optimist.
'I think in general for the town and the whole country it's the small businesses that are struggling.
'I think Bournemouth can be a very good place though and has a lot of potential. We just need the government to help small businesses a little to get off the ground and stabilise and then things can somewhat return to how they used to be.
'More shops are closing up than opening but a bit of help will go a long way.
'I wish I had the power to beautify parts of the front. I'd love to plant some trees along here and wipe off all the graffiti and show people that this is a great place to come.'
Another resident, who has lived in the area for over 60 years, added: 'It has changed so much in the time that I've been here.
'It used to be much more of a seaside town and was something of a holiday maker's paradise.
'There has been an unfortunate rise in antisocial behaviour and I wouldn't say I feel that safe around here.
'I just avoid it late at night. I wouldn't advise people to come out when it's dark.'
Chief Superintendent Heather Dixey, LPA Commander for the BCP area, said: 'We take all reports of crime and antisocial behaviour seriously and remain committed to working with our partners to confront these issues, hold offenders to account and support victims.
'Bournemouth remains a safe place to live, work and visit. However, like most large, urbanised areas, we do have crime and antisocial behaviour, which we are tackling and reducing.
'The added influx of visitors we receive during peak periods can lead to additional demand and we have extensive policing plans in place – which includes working with our local partners – to ensure we proactively deter offenders from committing crime.
'During the summer months we have enhanced visible patrols in key areas of touristic activity, such as the seafront, town centre and Lower Gardens. These patrols are also undertaken alongside our partner agencies.
'We also have dedicated hot spot policing foot patrols, focussed on areas where ASB and crime have been reported to us.
'The increased visibility and engagement of our officers in the town has led to a reduction in crime and ASB and has been warmly received by our communities, according to their feedback.
'As chair of the local Community Safety Partnership, it is fundamental that all agencies work together to prevent and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour through appropriate interventions, increased partner visibility and shared intelligence.
'We would urge members of the public and businesses to report all matters of theft to us and they will be the subject of a proportionate investigation.'