The seaside town 'no-go zone' overrun by drug addicts, subject to daily street fights and daytime drinking - as furious local plead for help

Published: 00:43, 6 July 2026 | Updated: 00:52, 6 July 2026 A popular seaside town overrun by drug addicts has become a 'no-go zone' where furious locals are subjected to daily street fights and daytime drinking. For decades, sunseekers from across the UK have flocked to Bournemouth to enjoy its famous golden sandy beaches. But now, areas of the Dorset town face rampant anti-social behaviour where drug deals take place in plain sight at 11am and hooligans brawl in the middle of the road forcing motorists to drive around them. Residents and business owners alike have said they feel scared and 'genuinely unsafe' when stepping outside.  In other instances, harrowing images have shown a woman lying unconscious on the floor after apparently overdosing on drugs. A separate video captured the moment of an off-duty policeman detains a yob who had been causing chaos in the Triangle area in Bournemouth town centre. Last week, on Bournemouth Beach, Dorset Police were seen confiscating dozens of canisters of hippie crack and alcohol from youths during the heatwave. Fed-up business owners in the town centre are pleading for more help from the police and the council to tackle the anti-social behaviour which they claim is stopping customers from visiting.  Two men fight in broad daylight in Bournemouth. Residents and business owners alike have said they feel scared and 'genuinely unsafe' when stepping outside due to the rampant anti-social behaviour  A drug deal taking place in place sight in Bournemouth. Fed-up business owners in the town centre are pleading for more help from the police and the council Ed Watts, who runs the restaurant bar Flirt cafe in the Triangle area of Bournemouth, is urging the police to get a grip on crime. He said: 'It is lawless. There is no other word for it. This summer is the worst I have ever seen it. 'There is hardcore drug taking going on involving crack cocaine and crack pipes outside with members of the public walking past. 'There was a car parked outside and six or seven people were in and out if it buying drugs. I called 999 but the police didn't come out.' Mr Watts said that his business faces anti-social behaviour at all hours of the day. On one evening, during a cabaret night, a man 'caused trouble' and 'spat' at him. And on another occasion people were fist-fighting outside the bar at 8am.    'What the hell is happening? We have reached the point where it is beyond a joke,' he continued. A fight taking place in Bournemouth town centre. Hooligans have also been known to brawl in the middle of the road forcing motorists to drive around them Bournemouth beach. For decades, sunseekers from across the UK have flocked to Bournemouth to enjoy its famous golden sandy beaches 'The police haven't got the staff yet we pay £13,000 a year in business rates. What for? 'I spent £15,000 on the outside seating area to make it look nice but people don't want to sit outside because it's a threatening atmosphere. Local resident Owen Pearce, 22, said: 'The amount of times I've had to phone the police from my house is ridiculous. 'I've seen stabbings, assaults. I've had someone try break down my front door.' Inspector Matt Buller, of Dorset Police, said: 'Tackling antisocial behaviour (ASB) remains a key priority for Dorset Police - we will not be complacent, and we will continue to confront this issue head-on. 'We take all reports of crime and anti-social behaviour seriously and remain committed to working with our partners to confront these issues, hold offenders to account and support victims.' 'We acknowledge that ASB affects people's quality of life and how safe they feel within their communities.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.