Vigilantes there for 'problem that doesn't exist'

David Sidwick said a vigilante group was providing fuel for mainstream and social media to tarnish the town.

Vigilante groups in Bournemouth are a response to "a problem which doesn't exist" according to the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

David Sidwick also told the Police and Crime Panel on Thursday that they were only providing fuel for mainstream and social media to tarnish the town.

The PCC was responding to a question by Talbot and Branksome Woods councillor Karen Rampton who asked if the summer growth in visitors, which puts police under pressure, had contributed to a growth in vigilante activities.

Mr Sidwick said he would rather people who wanted to make a difference to join the special constabulary or police service volunteers rather than self-appointed groups.

'Throwing juicy bones'

He told the panel these groups had "no statutory powers, no disciplinary systems and no formal accountability to the public."

"There is a risk of unlawful or discriminatory actions: without legal training groups may stray into... harassment, impersonation of police powers or perceived impersonation of police powers, or worse," he said.

He added he had seen a range of reports from such groups continually suggesting that Bournemouth was a dangerous place, but this was "throwing juicy bones to the mainstream media and certain social media individuals who only have one thing in mind, which is their own 'clicks' or their own popularity".

"Let's be very clear this exists for something which isn't there," he said.

Mr Sidwick also said: "Some people might see and feel the idea a good thing but the reality might be different … I was in Bournemouth on Tuesday night and someone spoke to me about this type of group, said they had seen them around, and felt intimidated – that is the other side of this coin."

The PCC told the panel total crime in Bournemouth had gone down by 8%, while personal anti-social behaviour was down by between 2 and 26%, and violent crime had gone down by 4%. However, he did not say over what time period the figures referred to.

Ms Rampton said that she suspected the vigilante group might not be so visible in the winter, but believed they would be back on the streets in the spring.

"Is there not something you can do to say they are not approved of by the councils or Dorset police?" she asked the Commissioner.

Mr Sidwick said that the activities of the group was being monitored.

He said: "I'm very clear that I am expecting this group to be called out when they do not tell the truth on social media, when hyperbole is there… but the thing which will remove it is that there are a lot of people in Bournemouth who want the truth about Bournemouth put out there."