The last few months have witnessed an alarming increase in violent attacks throughout Bournemouth.
A vicious assault on a taxi driver, grandfather Thomas Newton, during an altercation with two men on Monday night, has further highlighted the perilous continuation of violence in the area.
Mr. Newton's aggressors had demanded money from the father-of-four at the culmination of a journey that was supposed to end peacefully in Boscombe. When the taxi had pulled up in Adeline Road, the attack began, which included the use of a knife, leaving the driver with a neck wound that required three stitches.
The 66-year-old victim has courageously vowed to return to work on Wednesday evening and told the Bournemouth Daily Echo, "It’s made me nervous and I keep looking over my shoulder...I want these men caught and also want to make other taxi drivers aware of the very real dangers they face.”
Violent crime numbers fell across the Bournemouth Division according to the latest statistics made available by Dorset Police. Between April 2007 and March 2008, cases of 'violence against the person' fell by nearly 10% although detections actually fell by close to 600 instances.
Details of Thomas Newton's harrowing ordeal were published as news of another story of violence emerged on Wednesday. These issues will currently appear far more pertinent than outdated police figures. After all, were it not for passing sanitation workers, Mr. Newton could have endured a far worse fate.
Three men are wanted for questioning following an incident on February 4 outside the Bournemouth International Centre where a 22-year-old man from Poole sustained bruising to the head.
In a week that has also seen the conclusion to one of the most high-profile murder cases in the town's history and the conviction of Alan Pickersgill, fears of violent crime have moved onto the agenda.
Pickersgill, 37, has been given a life sentence for the murder of Julie Bywater at his Southbourne flat in May 2010.
The Echo's Neal Butterworth, in his summation of the tragic event, somewhat reductively labelled Pickersgill 'a wrong 'un', which he undoubtedly was although such terminology obviously doesn't begin to describe the full extent of his complex psychosis.
The fact remains that whilst any large town has to grimly expect the inevitabilities of social disorder; Bournemouth's residents have had recent cause to closely examine the deteriorating situation around them.
Showing posts with label boscombe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label boscombe. Show all posts
Friday, 25 February 2011
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Welcome to Vice City
Fatal stabbings, sex games gone wrong, citizens involved with armed robbery and pot-smoking students. These are the stories hitting the local headlines in Bournemouth. They may even be similar to the archetypal reports across the rest of the nation. That is, except for one important exception. These are all close to home.
This isn't post-modern revelling in Bournemouth's murky underworld nor a puritanical critique. This is just life and the current state of affairs in a town beset by scandal, intrigue and circulating rumours.
After an initial ban on releasing details of the deceased in the ongoing Moordown stabbing case, the Daily Echo appealed to the courts and more information has been released.
Mahmud Ibrahim Bakir, a 28-year-old man from Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, near the scene of the crime, has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Kewen Khorsheed in the early hours of the fateful morning of Thursday 27 January.
Along with three other men, Bakir will appear at Winchester Crown Court on Monday 7 February.
Bournmouth man Anthony Bado was involved in a criminal gang responsible for the theft of watches and jewellery worth more than £3.5 million. The spate of robberies, mainly across southern England, led to Bado of St. Clements, Boscombe, being jailed for 12 years.
Meanwhile, another murder case filling column inches has been that of Julie Bywater, 32, last May. She was allegedly strangled by ex-boyfriend Alan Pickersgill, 37, a trainee masseur who had become obsessed with Ms Bywater after their brief relationship fizzled out.
Pickersgill, of Southbourne, Bournemouth, had invited Bywater to his flat where the incident took place. He claims the murder was a result of a 'sex game gone wrong', a strangulation intended to generate erotic pleasure at the point of asphyixiation rather than a cold, brutal murder by an obsessive, as portrayed by Anthony Donne QC, prosecuting.
As that case continues, Bournemouth residents have also been regailed with accounts of the explusion of 'a number of students' from the Bishop of Winchester school in Mallard Road, Bournemouth.
The familiar cause of their exclusion-hash, blow, pot, weed, cannabis, green, the herb. Although the school was not prepared to expand on the exact reasons for their actions or the number of pupils permanently excluded, Principal Paul McKeown said: “The academy is determined to demonstrate zero tolerance towards behaviour that threatens children’s safety.
“As a consequence, it is with regret that a small number of students involved in this isolated incident will be permanently excluded,” he told the Echo.
These are the narratives of modern-day Bournemouth. From the bunga-bunga parties of sleepy Winton back streets to the drink and drug induced haze of Charminster Road, the local media has had much to ponder in the trickle of newsworthiness to emerge recently. This is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. This is Vice City. Keep looking.
This isn't post-modern revelling in Bournemouth's murky underworld nor a puritanical critique. This is just life and the current state of affairs in a town beset by scandal, intrigue and circulating rumours.
After an initial ban on releasing details of the deceased in the ongoing Moordown stabbing case, the Daily Echo appealed to the courts and more information has been released.
Mahmud Ibrahim Bakir, a 28-year-old man from Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, near the scene of the crime, has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Kewen Khorsheed in the early hours of the fateful morning of Thursday 27 January.
Along with three other men, Bakir will appear at Winchester Crown Court on Monday 7 February.
Bournmouth man Anthony Bado was involved in a criminal gang responsible for the theft of watches and jewellery worth more than £3.5 million. The spate of robberies, mainly across southern England, led to Bado of St. Clements, Boscombe, being jailed for 12 years.
Meanwhile, another murder case filling column inches has been that of Julie Bywater, 32, last May. She was allegedly strangled by ex-boyfriend Alan Pickersgill, 37, a trainee masseur who had become obsessed with Ms Bywater after their brief relationship fizzled out.
Pickersgill, of Southbourne, Bournemouth, had invited Bywater to his flat where the incident took place. He claims the murder was a result of a 'sex game gone wrong', a strangulation intended to generate erotic pleasure at the point of asphyixiation rather than a cold, brutal murder by an obsessive, as portrayed by Anthony Donne QC, prosecuting.
As that case continues, Bournemouth residents have also been regailed with accounts of the explusion of 'a number of students' from the Bishop of Winchester school in Mallard Road, Bournemouth.
The familiar cause of their exclusion-hash, blow, pot, weed, cannabis, green, the herb. Although the school was not prepared to expand on the exact reasons for their actions or the number of pupils permanently excluded, Principal Paul McKeown said: “The academy is determined to demonstrate zero tolerance towards behaviour that threatens children’s safety.
“As a consequence, it is with regret that a small number of students involved in this isolated incident will be permanently excluded,” he told the Echo.
These are the narratives of modern-day Bournemouth. From the bunga-bunga parties of sleepy Winton back streets to the drink and drug induced haze of Charminster Road, the local media has had much to ponder in the trickle of newsworthiness to emerge recently. This is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. This is Vice City. Keep looking.
Monday, 29 March 2010
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Boscombe?
Nowhere in Bournemouth polarises opinion as much as the coastal suburb of Boscombe. It has struggled to shake off the negative images that have blighted it for so long. Classed as being in the bottom 2% of economically deprived areas in the UK and notorious for drugs and crime, you might be tempted to think that Bournemouth Borough Council's efforts to re-generate the area would be warmly received. The truth is, despite improvements, Boscombe continues to divide residents.
The latest bout of simpering from the Echo has followed recent accolades awarded to Boscombe. Having recently won the 'Pier of the Year' award, the council were given recognition for demonstrating an ability to outline a long-term vision for unlocking the area's potential. This secured them top spot at the Local Government Chronicle Awards. The Boscombe Spa Village Project is a major component in the award winning strategy. It includes introducing new housing stock besides developments along the sea front and the creation of Europe's first artificial surf reef. This vision has sought to revitalise Bournemouth's poorest relation.
In spite of these efforts, Boscombe still has its detractors and in some cases, with good reason. The cosmetic adjustments may have enhanced the area's aesthetic appeal however the jury is still out on whether the changes amount to something more substantial as deep-rooted problems remain. Cheap social housing catering for those on housing benefit, sometimes affected by various addictions, is still prevalent. The streets are still a great attraction to the insalubrious element of society.
Perhaps the council should be given more support. Renovating the beach huts so as to put them out of the price-range of the average resident wasn't the smartest of moves though there does appear to be a method behind such madness. This, coupled with the reef, has aimed to bring about a more bohemian atmosphere and well-heeled 'surf set', willing to both invest and spend disposable income.
There are aspects of the council's plans for Boscombe that are right to be lauded. Problems remain though and Bournemouth residents are starting to become irked by the constant stream of sycophantic, positive reporting from local media outlets. The issues affecting the everyday need to be addressed too in an attempt to heal divisions.
The latest bout of simpering from the Echo has followed recent accolades awarded to Boscombe. Having recently won the 'Pier of the Year' award, the council were given recognition for demonstrating an ability to outline a long-term vision for unlocking the area's potential. This secured them top spot at the Local Government Chronicle Awards. The Boscombe Spa Village Project is a major component in the award winning strategy. It includes introducing new housing stock besides developments along the sea front and the creation of Europe's first artificial surf reef. This vision has sought to revitalise Bournemouth's poorest relation.
In spite of these efforts, Boscombe still has its detractors and in some cases, with good reason. The cosmetic adjustments may have enhanced the area's aesthetic appeal however the jury is still out on whether the changes amount to something more substantial as deep-rooted problems remain. Cheap social housing catering for those on housing benefit, sometimes affected by various addictions, is still prevalent. The streets are still a great attraction to the insalubrious element of society.
Perhaps the council should be given more support. Renovating the beach huts so as to put them out of the price-range of the average resident wasn't the smartest of moves though there does appear to be a method behind such madness. This, coupled with the reef, has aimed to bring about a more bohemian atmosphere and well-heeled 'surf set', willing to both invest and spend disposable income.
There are aspects of the council's plans for Boscombe that are right to be lauded. Problems remain though and Bournemouth residents are starting to become irked by the constant stream of sycophantic, positive reporting from local media outlets. The issues affecting the everyday need to be addressed too in an attempt to heal divisions.
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