A man has been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into the reported rape of a teenage girl on Bournemouth beach last year.

Detectives from Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) have been carrying out enquiries into the report that a 15-year-old girl was raped in the sea near to the Oceanarium at around 4pm on Sunday 18 July 2021.

Following an extensive investigation, an 18-year-old man from the West Midlands has been arrested on suspicion of rape. He has been released on police bail as enquiries continue.

Detective Inspector Wayne Seymour, of MCIT, said: “We have continued to support the victim and her family throughout this investigation, and they have been updated with this latest development.”