Bournemouth | Posted on September 22nd, 2025 | return to news

Bournemouth protests pass peacefully

There were protest marches in Bournemouth on Saturday 20 September between the opposing factions of anti-immigration and anti-racism protestors.

Dorset Police turned out in full force on Saturday 20 September to ensure that demonstrations between anti-immigration and anti-racism protestors didn’t result in disorder.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Lyne said: “We are pleased to report that both protests in Bournemouth on Saturday remained peaceful and there were no reports of disorder, with only one person asked to leave the area for being drunk in a public place.

“Our priority at events like this is always to keep people safe and we have been working hard to facilitate the right to peaceful protest while balancing the use of legal powers so we can ensure everyone’s safety.

“We’ve been in consistent contact with both groups since they indicated to us that they would be exercising their right to protest, and have continued to liaise with BCP Council and other emergency service colleagues.

“On the day, we enacted our well-rehearsed plans with support from additional officers from outside Dorset, and our highly visible policing approach enabled lawful protests and provided a reassuring presence for the public.

“We have once again demonstrated our ability to enable people to exercise their right to protest without causing significant or ongoing disruption to local communities.

“I would like to issue a message of thanks to members of the public for their conduct and understanding of the restrictions which were put in place.

“I would also like to praise all officers and staff who were on duty for the professionalism they displayed to ensure everyone remained safe, the partner agencies for their support during this significant operation, in addition to all those officers and staff for ensuring we were able to respond to calls from the public, attend incidents and investigate offences.”