Bournemouth’s Triangle businesses secured concrete pledges from Dorset Police and BCP Council to tackle anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, and drug activity during a meeting at Flirt Cafe & Bar on 3 July 2026. Organised by the Bournemouth Town Centre BID, the session brought traders face-to-face with Chief Inspector Barry Gosling and Kelly Deane, the council’s Director of Housing and Public Protection.
Chief Inspector Gosling confirmed that neighbourhood officers will increase their presence during both day and evening hours, supported by targeted policing operations. “We are committed to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the Bournemouth Triangle and the wider town centre area and will work relentlessly to reduce incidents for the community,” he said. Kelly Deane added that the council will strengthen its community safety patrols and carry out environmental improvements. “We know recent incidents in the Triangle have caused serious concern, which is why today’s meeting was so important,” she said.
Businesses will receive clearer incident-reporting guidance and are being encouraged to use SentrySIS, a cloud-based platform that allows traders to share intelligence, receive real-time alerts, and help police identify repeat offenders. The BID already runs an Against Business Crime partnership across the BCP conurbation, connecting police, retailers, and private security through the same system. In April 2022, the council and police carried out a joint operation in Boscombe that included dispersal notices, Trading Standards action, and enforcement against persistent anti-social behaviour. Bournemouth’s town centre has held Purple Flag accreditation for 15 consecutive years, recognising safe evening and night-time economies.
Work will continue on practical improvements, including tackling graffiti, reviewing bin provision, and maintaining public spaces. The strong turnout at the meeting, with officers from neighbourhood policing and the council’s ASB and homelessness teams present, underlined the weight local businesses place on the area’s future. Martin Davies, Chair of Bournemouth Town Centre BID, stressed that the Triangle is home to many independent businesses that contribute significantly to the local economy. “This isn’t a one-off meeting. We’ll continue bringing businesses, Dorset Police and BCP Council together on a regular basis to make sure progress is being made,” he said.
Agreed actions will be reviewed at the next meeting, scheduled in two months’ time, to check how they are translating into safer streets and a more welcoming trading environment.
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