Volunteers clear up ‘migrant shanty town’ encampment by popular UK beach after accusing council of doing ‘nothing’

A VOLUNTEER group of locals cleared up a “shanty town” camp overlooking a popular beach they claim was being used by illegal migrants. A dozen members of Protect Our Postcode, formed earlier this summer, spent around an hour and a half this week dismantling the encampment which sits just above Bournemouth beach. The 12 volunteers from Protect Our Postcode spent an hour and a half clearing the camp Credit: Frank White The ‘shanty town’ was erected near Bouremouth beach Credit: Frank White The camp included a large sofa There appeared to be evidence of a large amount of people having lived there Credit: FRANK WHITE Footage also shows the group speaking to a man who is allegedly from Ghana, who they claim had said he previously lived at nearby Britannia Hotel, one of multiple sites housing asylum seekers. Group founder Frank White said it appeared other people had also been staying at the encampment. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Days after the first visit, on Monday (July 13), the volunteers, led by local plumber Frank, 35, returned to the site to clear it, having warned the man he needed to leave. He says it was full of beer bottles and rubbish – and after the clearance, they dug up the sand and placed a large cross. Frank told The Sun: “He wasn’t there when we returned. “If he had been, we wouldn’t have just ripped him out. We did tell him we would be coming back to clear it and he’d need to find somewhere else. “The camp was causing public distress – people were scared to walk past there.” He understands similar camps have been popping up on the site each summer for years – originally for local homeless people, but believes since 2024 they’ve been used by migrants. Most read in The Sun There were clothes and rubbish strewn across the clearing Credit: FRANK WHITE A bin full of rubbish, including cans, while empty bottles are littered on the ground Credit: FRANK WHITE The volunteer group spoke to a man at the camp who they say claimed to be an asylum seeker Credit: Frank White Frank White (left) and the other volunteers – mostly all local tradesmen – put up a cross at the site after the clearance Credit: Frank White “It’s only in the summer because they enjoy the view,” Frank explained. “We don’t think that’s acceptable. “I’m a compassionate person, I’m a Christian. If he’d said he needed help we weren’t going to physically remove him – we would have helped him. “The local residents just don’t want to see it – they don’t want to walk up there with dogs at night. “They don’t use that area because there’s guys overlooking the beach, drinking alcohol and smoking drugs.” He added: “That’s not the only camp – there are others up and down the coast.” Frank explained: “There were hundreds and hundreds of bottles of beer and stuff there. “He seemed to be enjoying himself. This wasn’t a down on his look guy, just needed somewhere to stay. “It looked like a good spot for him to have friends over for parties in the sunshine. There was also at least one tent in the camp Credit: FRANK WHITE The group lays down bark after clearing the camp and litter Credit: Frank White Frank alleges the council failed to do anything despite locals saying they feared going by the camp Credit: Frank White The volunteers carry a wheelbarrow and spades to the camp Credit: FRANK WHITE “They had an electric generator there as well.” Describing the camp, he went on to say: “There was a three-piece sofa – there were wheelie bins full of beer bottles, there was also rubbish all over the floor. “There was clothing, duvet sets, a tent, a generator. There were also personal belongings in a backpack when we were originally there.” After they removed the camp, the volunteers dug up the sand and placed a cross. Frank said: “We started digging and we got two or three inches down from the sand and there was another layer of rubbish. “It’s like they’d brought more sand up to cover previous rubbish. Digging the hole wasn’t easy.” Frank accused the council of doing “nothing” to clear the camp and said his team put their safety at risk in carrying it out themselves. Their only protection were thick gloves he had bought for everyone from ScrewFix prior to heading to the site. The camp overlooks Bournemouth beach Credit: Frank White The camp was littered with rubbish Credit: Frank White Frank explained Protect Our Postcode was set up after NHS worker Stephen Ogilvie, 44, was attacked in Belfast by a knifeman on June 8, suffering life changing injuries, including losing his left eye. Hadi Alodid, 30, was arrested and later charged with attempted murder and possession of a knife. He had entered the UK as an asylum seeker and subsequently granted formal refugee status. Frank said: “To be honest with you, I’m getting a lot of stick about what we’re doing and what the aim is. Our group is not just anti-immigration. “Because we’ve approached a migrant camp, that’s not our only direction and I just want that to be known.” He said he and other members have been dismayed by recent crimes being reported in Bournemouth, including a spate of sexual assaults at the beach. He continued: “There is no police presence – but I don’t have an issue with the police, they’re doing the best they can with what they’ve got. “This is with the council. I’m pretty sure the lack of police presence is the story across the country.” Frank says he is not simply anti-immigration but that the council needed to get a grip on the situation Credit: FRANK WHITE The volunteers had limited health and safety protection Credit: Frank White Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council) had installed a 6ft wire fence to stop people accessing the clearing, but a section of it had been cut away to create an opening. Cllr Mike Cox, Deputy Leader of BCP Council said: “We were in the process of clearing this complex and dangerous site and needed to make sure our teams could work safely. “The cliffs are unpredictable. Landslips and wildfires could happen at any time and anyone trespassing in this area puts themselves at huge risk. “We ask the public not to take matters into their own hands. We are assessing the location for damage and to determine any action needed to make the cliffs safe. “We continue to review the measures we have in place to prevent access to dangerous locations and are looking at how we can respond more swiftly and effectively to similar issues in the future.” Dorset Police did not wish to comment on the camp when approached by The Sun. However, Chief Superintendent Julie Howe, LPA Commander for the BCP area, said: “Bournemouth remains a safe place to live, work and visit. “However, like most large, urbanised areas, we do have crime, which we are tackling and reducing. Often these offences involve individuals who are known to one another. Rubbish at the site, which appeared to have been there for some time Credit: Frank White As a Christian, Frank felt it was important to erect a cross Credit: Frank White “The added influx of visitors we receive during peak periods can lead to additional demand and we have extensive policing plans in place – which includes working with our local partners – to ensure we proactively deter offenders from committing crime. “This summer, our Good Safe Summer initiative sees us deploy enhanced visible patrols in key areas of touristic activity, such as the seafront, town centre and Lower Gardens. “These patrols are also undertaken alongside our Town Team, who are deployed by BCP Council. “Furthermore, our officers conduct regular foot patrols around hotspot areas where ASB and violent crime has been reported to us. People enjoy the warm weather last week at Bouremouth beach Credit: Alamy The camp sits just yards from the beach Credit: Getty “This includes in the area of The Triangle, where we have been conducting additional patrols and meeting regularly with members of the business community to discuss their concerns. “Earlier this year, Dorset Police welcomed an additional 11 officers to the neighbourhood policing team covering Bournemouth town centre, this was part of a wider investment in neighbourhood policing over a 12-month period. “Additionally, we also have dedicated patrol officers deployed to police our busy nighttime economy. “The increased visibility and engagement of our officers in Bournemouth has been warmly received by our communities, according to their feedback, and has seen positive results. Britannia Hotel is one of the sites used by the government to house asylum seekers Credit: Alamy Protesters outside the Britannia Hotel earlier this year Credit: BNPS “In the town centre – comparing 2025/2026 to 2024/2025 – ASB has reduced by 5.7 per cent, total crime has reduced by 3.2 per cent, violence against the person has reduced by 1.8 per cent and public order have reduced by 13 per cent. “Dorset Police does not tolerate violence or disorder within our communities. “It is our priority to investigate such offences, identify those involved, ensure that they become the subject of the criminal justice process and held account for their actions. “We will continue our efforts to tackle crime and maintain Bournemouth as a safe and enjoyable place to live and visit. “We would also urge anyone who had been a victim of crime to report the matter to it so we can take action. “It also helps us build an intelligence picture and inform where we direct our patrols.” The Sun has approached the Home Office for comment.