RESIDENTS of a seaside town say that their popular beach is being ruined by a spate of vile sex attacks – but add that a key change would fix things.
Locals of Bournemouth, Dorset, welcome thousands of tourists to their golden sands each year, but the area has drawn comparisons to the Wild West after an alarming increase in sexual assaults.
In one of the most troubling cases, two girls aged 10 and 11 complained of being indecently assaulted as they swam in the sea near to the pier just days ago.
Although Dorset Police have made an arrest in connection to that incident, beachgoers today urged them to do more to prevent such crimes from happening in the first place.
It comes after police said earlier this month they were hunting for a group of men after a 17-year-old boy claimed he was sexually assaulted in the sea.
Another teen, 19, is awaiting trial after a 15-year-old claimed he raped her in the sea in front of thousands of holidaymakers.
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Milly Campbell, 17, from nearby Poole, said she had heard many horror stories.
She told The Sun: "It does make me feel uncomfortable.
"Lots of teenagers come down here without their parents and I have heard of people getting their drinks spiked.
"I'm definitely aware of people when I'm on the beach, I'm always looking over my shoulder and I will probably be more alert now."
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Steve and Jeanette Hacker agreed, saying that they would be worried if their five grandchildren went down to the beach on their own.
Both they and Milly urged the local council to run more patrols on the beach to help prevent the sick crimes.
Gabrielle Johnson, a 33-year-old from Bournemouth, added: "I think it is the time we live in now."
The mum, who has a teenage daughter, added: "I do worry because you don't know who is looking at you.
"I don't let her go to the beach by herself, she normally goes with a friend and her mum. I'm lucky she is quite sensible.
"But I do think it would be good if the police were around more. I don't know how else we can stop that happening."
And local restaurant worker Henry Tran, 20, recalled people coming into the outlet to get away from creepy men "following them", while some of his co-workers were unnerved by customers staring at them.
On June 17, a man reportedly approached two teens outside the Harry Ramsden's where he works and attempted to touch one inappropriately before trying to slap the other.
Dorset Police have been approached for comment.
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