Detectives in Bournemouth have arrested a man in his 60s in connection with a suspected rape on a woodland path near the beachfront. The arrest follows an attack on Wednesday evening in the Boscombe area, with police confirming the victim, a woman in her 40s, had met the man on Woodland Walk that same evening.
Arrest made after late-night report
Dorset Police received a report of the rape at 12:16am on Thursday, approximately three hours after the incident is believed to have occurred. Officers subsequently arrested a man in his 60s from Bournemouth on suspicion of rape. The force has confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing.
Detective Inspector Edmund Murray said: “We are continuing to support the victim and have updated her of the latest development. An investigation was launched and we have now made an arrest as we continue to investigate what happened.”
Appeal for witnesses and local concerns
Murray also appealed for public assistance, stating: “I am appealing to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area that may assist our enquiries to please get in touch. Our local neighbourhood policing team will be patrolling the area and can be approached by anyone who has concerns or wants to provide information.”
Woodland Walk, a hiking path connecting Christchurch Road and the Boscombe cliffs, was cordoned off during the scene investigation. The closure has heightened concerns among local residents, who describe the area as increasingly unsafe.
Resident calls for better protections
Kirsty, a 50-year-old local, told the Bournemouth Echo: “Woodland Walk has increasingly become a very unsavoury area for anyone to be on their own but especially for women. I have not felt safe in Boscombe for many years and increasingly in the surrounding areas.”
She urged the council, police, and local MPs to work on better protections in areas where anti-social behaviour has been reported. The investigation is ongoing, and police are encouraging anyone with information to come forward.
