Police chief disputes resort town safety concerns

A police and crime commissioner (PCC) has said the public perception of anti-social behaviour in Bournemouth is worse than the "actuality".

David Sidwick, PCC for Dorset, was reacting to residents' comments put to him during a BBC Radio Solent "hot seat" interview.

Some said they no longer felt safe in the town.

But Sidwick, a Conservative, said anti-social behaviour was at its lowest level in 16 years across the county but he recognised there was "more work to be done".

"I think there is a difference between the actuality and the perception," he said.

"We've got to do something about the perception and why people don't feel safe."

He said partnership with the council was key, highlighting the need to cut back bushes, ensure CCTV was in operation and that streetlights were on.

"All those things make people feel safer," he said.

He said knife crime was low compared to other areas of the country and that investment had been directed at schemes to reduce it further.

Dorset Police is partly funded by a national grant, which is divided between police forces across the country and is decided by the national funding formula.

But Sidwick said, as a holiday destination, Dorset should receive greater amounts of funding.

"We don't get an extra penny to police any tourists," he said.

He said he had appealed to central government for more funding but had been "fobbed off".

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The Home Secretary has announced reforms to policing that will allow forces to focus on protecting their community and make the public safer, including putting 13,000 more neighbourhood officers into roles to tackle local crime.

"Police force funding next year is at a historic high of £18.4bn, with Dorset Police seeing an increase of 4.5% compared to 2025/26."