Bournemouth, Crime | Posted on February 17th, 2026 | return to news

Teenagers to face court following disorder in Southbourne

The incident took place on Southbourne Beach on Thursday 17 April 2025, with one teenager in possession of a hammer.

Four teenage boys from Poole and one from Bournemouth are to appear at Poole Youth Court on Tuesday 3 March following a fracas last year.

On the evening of Thursday 17 April 2025, officers responded to reports of disorder following a gathering of several young people on Southbourne Beach.

It was alleged that a number of people present were assaulted and one of those involved in the violence was in possession of a hammer.

Officers attended on the night and ensured that the crowd dispersed and no further violence took place.

In the weeks and months following, the local neighbourhood policing team led the effort to carefully compile evidence, including a detailed examination of CCTV to identify those reportedly involved in the violence that occurred.

Following extensive investigative work and liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service, a 17-year-old boy from Poole was charged with affray and possession of an offensive weapon, while another 17-year-old Poole boy was charged with affray and possession of a class B drug.

Further, an 18-year-old man from Poole was charged with affray, while a 17-year-old boy from Poole and a 17-year-old boy from Bournemouth have also been issued with summons to appear at court for an offence of affray.

Chief Inspector Nick Lee, of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Police, said: “We fully recognise the impact reports of public place violence of this nature have on innocent members of the public who are present.

“We have carried out a detailed investigation into the events at Southbourne Beach on the evening of Thursday 17 April 2025, which has resulted in five people facing charges at court.

“We will continue to investigate all reports of incidents such as this and explore all lines of enquiry available to ensure those believed to be involved are identified and held to account.

“We remain committed to working with our partners to ensure our beaches and public spaces can be enjoyed by all as we head into the warmer months and would urge parents and guardians to play their part and ensure they know where their children are.”