Tents line the beach in Bournemouth (Image: Shutterstock)
To many, Bournemouth conjures images of golden sandy beaches, a thriving seafront and spectacular coastal views. But the Dorset town has a dark secret: rampant homelessness.
The seaside town is actually home to the highest number of rough sleepers outside of London, and now drugs are ravaging the homeless community.
This year, Bournemouth has seen 65 deaths from drug overdoses, up from 34 the year before.
Such is the scale of the crisis, a suburb of the town, .
According to tent-dwelling locals, the drug deaths are in part down to the emergence of man-made nitazenes – a type of synthetic opioid.
An area of Bournemouth has been branded the ‘drugs capital of the South’ (Image: Getty)
Karl Burnes, a Big Issue seller in the town, told : “I see a lot of drugs abuse and I know quite a few people who’ve died because it’s mixed with stuff.
“Sometimes I’ll be sitting here, and someone will come along and say ‘what’s-his-name’s just died’ – it’s horrible. It’s really sad.”
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Pool (BCP), the local authority, behind only Westminster and Camden in terms of rough sleepers, has so many homeless residents – at least 72 – that a number set up a community on the beach earlier in the year.
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Nitazene powder at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education in Pennsylvania (Image: Getty)
Kevin Strudwick is the Business Crime Operations Manager for Bournemouth. He told The Sun: “We obviously do have many homeless people and rough sleepers in the town who create problems with anti-social behaviour, drunkenness and sleeping in shop doorways.
“The officers will come round, wake them up, give them advice and tell them where to go for support. It’s got a lot worse, a lot of people come from other areas. If you’re on the street you might as well come to Bournemouth because it’s a seaside town, it’s a holiday destination and so people tend to be more generous.
“In the summer we had a shanty town on the beach, there were tents going all the way along and enforcement had to get them to move on.
“It is a problem and there is help there and accommodation, but they must obey the rules, like no drinking, smoking, drug-taking or fighting.”
reported this autumn that .
Personal trainer and Leanne Miles knifed in an alleged murder and attempted murder at Durley Chine Beach, West Undercliff Promenade, on May 24.
Ms Gray, from nearby Poole, died at the scene while Ms Miles was taken to hospital after suffering serious injuries. Nasen Saadi, 20, from Croydon, south London, has pleaded not guilty to Ms Gray’s murder and to the attempted murder of Ms Miles.
A teenage boy was injured in Pier Approach as recently as July 30 in an alleged assault not linked to the reported attacks on May 24.
Ch Supt Heather Dixey, Dorset Police Commander for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, previously said: “Bournemouth remains a safe place in which to live, work and visit. However, like any large urban area, we do have crime and anti-social behaviour, which we are tackling and reducing.”
Kieron Wilson, portfolio holder for Housing and Regulatory Services at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, said the town welcomes around 10 million visitors a year, who come to enjoy its award-winning beaches, town centre and gardens.
He added: “The vast majority experience no crime or anti-social behaviour whilst in our area. Statistically, we are one of the safest places in the country to live in and visit.
“But we understand that the way people feel when they are in our town is important too. This is why we continue to work hard, alongside our partners at Dorset Police, on measures to reduce [antisocial behaviour, ASB].”