Overview

• A 31-year-old Bournemouth man remains in custody on suspicion of raping a girl in her late teens at the Undercliff Drive lavatory on July 6
• Dorset Police have cordoned off the public toilet to collect forensic evidence and are conducting a specialist-led inquiry
• Officers have increased patrols along the seafront and are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward
• Last week’s large brawl near the Victorian Pier prompted six arrests and led to extended dispersal powers to tackle disorder
• Bournemouth recorded 83 crimes per 1,000 residents in 2023, the highest rate in Dorset, and local leaders warn safety fears are altering how women use the town centre