Police officers were assaulted and multiple arrests made as large-scale disorder broke out on Bournemouth beach on Tuesday evening, with a helicopter deployed overhead as crowds gathered during the hottest May on record.
Dorset Police confirmed they were called to Undercliff Drive on the evening of 26 May to deal with what they described as disorder involving a large number of people. Around 35 officers were spotted lining Bournemouth Pier Approach from around 6pm, with dozens of police cars also deployed to the seafront area alongside the National Police Air Service helicopter, which circled overhead as officers worked to disperse the crowds. The South Western Ambulance Service was also in attendance.
In a statement, Dorset Police said: “We are currently dealing with disorder involving a large number of people on Bournemouth beach in the area of Undercliff Drive. It has been reported that officers have been assaulted and we would like to make it extremely clear that this behaviour will not be tolerated. We are making arrests and working to disperse those involved.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Callaghan said: “I am sending a clear message to those who are intent on causing harm or using violence to leave the vicinity. There will be a large police presence in the area while we seek to keep the public and our officers safe. We have commenced an investigation into the disorder and we will continue to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. I would also like to thank our officers for their professional and courageous actions during this incident.”
The disorder erupted at the height of Britain’s record-breaking spring heatwave, which saw Bournemouth and the surrounding Dorset coast inundated with visitors throughout the Bank Holiday weekend and school half-term. Nearly 3,000 parking fines were issued across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole during the bank holiday weekend alone for illegal and irresponsible parking, and litter pickers reported finding discarded tents and empty alcohol cans left across the seafront in the days that followed.
The scenes echo a pattern of disorder that has blighted Bournemouth on hot summer days in recent years. Tuesday’s incident is not an isolated event — similar outbreaks of violence on the seafront have occurred repeatedly during periods of extreme heat, with day-trippers travelling from across the country and police repeatedly stretched to manage the volume of people descending on the town’s beaches.
The investigation into Tuesday’s disorder is ongoing. Dorset Police have asked anyone with footage of the incident to come forward.
