Petition to BCP Council and the UK Government

 

 

This is not about politics.

It is about people feeling unsafe where they live.

Across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, residents are saying the same thing quietly, then increasingly out loud:

“I don’t feel safe anymore.”

This is not hysteria. It is a lived experience.

People have witnessed:

• Violent incidents in town centres and near transport hubs
• Open drug use and dealing in daylight
• Intimidation, threats and aggressive behaviour
• Vulnerable people being targeted
• Parents afraid to let teenagers travel alone
• Elderly residents avoiding areas they once walked freely

These are not rare events. They are becoming normalised.

And while Dorset Police work hard with limited resources, they cannot be everywhere, all the time.

That gap is what Bournemouth Safeguard Force stepped into.

 

Why visibility matters when fear takes hold

Crime statistics matter to policymakers. But visibility matters to ordinary people. When antisocial behaviour goes unchecked, it sends a message:

No one is watching. No one is present. No one cares.

High-visibility community volunteers change that dynamic.

They do not arrest. They do not confront. They do not replace police. They interrupt escalation, provide reassurance, and act as witnesses.

For many residents, that simple presence has meant:

• Feeling safer walking home
• Reduced intimidation in public spaces
• Someone to turn to when situations feel uncertain
• Confidence to use town centres again

That reassurance has value. Removing it has consequences.

 

Safeguard Force has evolved because communities must be allowed to

Safeguard Force did not appear fully formed. Neither does any volunteer organisation.

In response to scrutiny and concern, the group has taken steps to:

• Improve training standards
• Strengthen internal vetting
• Clarify boundaries and conduct
• Increase transparency
• Move toward professionalism

This matters.

We do not improve community safety by shutting down groups that are trying to raise standards.

We improve it by setting expectations and holding them to account.

 

Why shutting Safeguard Force down would make things worse

A separate petition calls for the group to be closed entirely. That approach ignores reality.

Closing Safeguard Force would not:

• Increase police numbers
• Remove drug dealing
• Prevent violence
• Make town centres safer

It would simply remove a visible deterrent and leave residents feeling abandoned.

Communities across the UK already rely on:

• Neighbourhood Watch
• Street Pastors
• Volunteer marshals
• Event stewards
• Community safety patrols

Safeguard Force should be judged by its conduct, not erased by accusation.

 

This is not about ideology or online arguments

Many people supporting this petition disagree on politics. They agree on safety.

Community reassurance is not extremism. Volunteering is not vigilantism. Visibility is not hate.

Reducing a complex local issue to online labels silences residents who are afraid to speak publicly but desperate for change.

 

Why community safety supports the local economy

When people feel unsafe, they do not spend.

They change their habits quietly:

• They stop going into town at night
• They avoid buses and trains
• They think twice before booking taxis
• They cancel plans
• They go out less
• They spend less locally

That has a ripple effect.

Local cafés, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, shops and transport services rely on confidence as much as footfall.

When confidence drops, trade drops.

Visible community reassurance helps restore that confidence. When people see calm, organised presence in public spaces, they are more likely to:

• Use town centres again
• Stay out longer
• Travel by public transport
• Support local businesses
• Take part in community life

Community safety does not just protect people. It protects livelihoods.

Why reassurance matters in a student and tourist town

Bournemouth’s reputation matters. We are a student town. We are a tourist destination.

Visitors research before they arrive. They read headlines. They see social media. They hear stories from friends.

When problems are visible but support is not, people do not return. Visible reassurance sends a different message: 

• Those issues are recognised.
• That they are being managed.
• That people are not left on their own.

For students, parents and visitors, knowing there is additional visible support can mean the difference between:

• Feeling anxious or feeling welcome
• Cutting a visit short or staying
• Avoiding the town or recommending it

This is not about denying problems exist. It is about showing that Bournemouth takes safety seriously.

 

Safety, confidence and community life are inseparable

People do not thrive in places where they feel unsafe. Businesses do not survive without confident customers. Towns do not attract visitors without reassurance.

Community safety is not a political statement. It is a foundation.

Recognising and regulating Bournemouth Safeguard Force is not about ideology.

It is about supporting residents, protecting livelihoods, and safeguarding the reputation of our town.

 

What we are asking for, clearly and reasonably

We are calling on BCP Council and relevant government bodies to:

• Formally engage with Safeguard Force
• Define clear operating limits
• Require training, accountability and transparency
• Recognise the group as a community safety resource
• Allow residents to decide whether they want this support

This is not blind approval. It is structured recognition with oversight.

 

A final word to anyone still unsure

No one signs a petition like this lightly.

People sign because something has changed. Because something no longer feels right. Because silence has started to feel like a risk.

Many residents are not looking for arguments. They are looking for reassurance. They want to walk home without tension. They want their children to travel safely. They want to enjoy their town again.

Recognising a visible, accountable community safety presence is not an extreme position. It is a human one. Ignoring fear does not make it disappear. Listening to it is how trust is rebuilt.

What signing this petition actually says

Signing does not mean:

• Blind approval
• No oversight
• No boundaries
• No accountability

Signing means:

• Engagement instead of erasure
• Regulation instead of denial
• Improvement instead of shutdown
• Letting residents have a say

This petition asks for dialogue, standards and recognition. Nothing more. Nothing reckless.

 

Let people who live here have a say

Residents are the ones walking these streets. Waiting at these bus stops. Working late shifts. Raising children here.

They deserve a voice in how their safety is supported.

Sign this petition if you believe:

• Community safety should be practical, not ideological
• Residents deserve reassurance, not dismissal
• Volunteer-led solutions should be improved, not erased
• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole deserve safer streets

You can see the Safeguard Force Facebook page here to see what they've been up to recently.

Support engagement. Support oversight. Support the right to feel safe again.