A COMMUNITY leader has spoken out about drug dealing in part of Bournemouth - and criticised statistics from the police.

Mark Elkins, co-ordinator of East Cliff and Springbourne Residents Group said the data provided by Dorset Police to show the number of reported incidents linked to drug dealing in the area is 'highly ambiguous'.

It comes after one resident said their daughter is terrified about what is going on outside her front door.

On one occasion a man was seen injecting himself with heroin outside in the street.

The resident told the Daily Echo she has lived in the area for five years and drug dealing incidences have increased in recent months after a temporary CCTV camera was removed from Curzon Road.

In response to concerns raised, Dorset Police released data to show the number of reports recorded by the force linked to drug supply offences in the Springbourne and East Cliff area over the last five years.

The data

  • 2017-19
  • 2018-19
  • 2019-15
  • 2020-20
  • 2021-14
  • 2022 (1/01/22 to 31/10/22)-13

READ MORE: Dorset Police release data on reports of drug dealing in Springbourne

However, residents say this data is not representative of the bigger picture.

Mr Elkins said: “I don't know where they have got such a low figure from. Perhaps it is the number of convictions they have made.

“In the last two weeks alone I have been made aware of numerous reports of Drug Dealing in Holdenhurst Road, Springbourne and Spring Road, Springbourne, and Southcote Road, Eastcliff.

“This is not untypical of the frequency reported on a constant basis by residents.

“The Local Police and BCP Council ASB Team have all been made aware of this in emails from me copying in Local Councillors, Dorset PCC, Councillor Bobbie Dove portfolio holder for ASB.

“There is also a significant amount of under reporting where some residents feel threatened if they report or just that nothing will be done.”

He added: “For example they are using the term "report" but when anyone reports alleged drug dealing to the Police they are supposed to get an incident number and I know that they will go into far more than 100. For example Lowther Gardens reports were daily before CCTV was put in there around September 2021.

"So what we have with the figures quoted by Chief Inspector Harris is a highly ambiguous interpretation of the true level of what residents are experiencing.”

As previously reported, Chief Inspector Darren Harris, of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Local Policing Area (LPA), acknowledged that the statistics 'do not show the overall picture'.

He said: "While we appreciate the statistics alone do not show the overall picture, it should be noted that our figures show there has not been a significant increase in reports related to drug dealing in the Springbourne area over the last five years.

Mr Elkins contacted Police and Crime Comissioner David Sidwick about the data.