The Bournemouth One News Centre

All the news you need for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole with travel information and national headlines.

• Search for man after woman found dead

  Police are searching for Richard Sean Ball after a woman was found dead at Paddington Grove in Bournemouth. Officers responded to a report in the early hours and confirmed the woman’s death at the scene, with her family being kept informed as the investigation continues. The incident is being treated as suspicious, and a local woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and released under investigation. Police urge anyone with information about Ball’s whereabouts or who witnessed suspicious activity in the area between June tenth and July first to contact them immediately.

• Dorset Council staff sickness rates rising

  Dorset Council staff are taking more sick days, averaging over nine days per employee each year. The council says long-term sickness is the main reason for the increase, while short-term absences have stayed the same. Efforts are underway to support staff and reduce sickness levels. Serious workplace accidents have also risen, with more incidents being reported than the council’s target.

• Bournemouth death treated as suspicious

  Dorset Police has launched an investigation after a 51-year-old woman was found dead at an address in Paddington Grove.

• Dorset parking review sets out options

  Dorset Council is reviewing parking across more than eighty car parks and nearby on-street spaces. New data shows some town centre and coastal car parks are busy during peak periods, while others are regularly underused. The council says this can lead to congestion, drivers searching for spaces, frustration and poorer air quality in busier locations. Early ideas include more local approaches to charges, greener incentives, stronger enforcement and closer links with public transport. No decisions have been made, with councillors due to consider the findings on Thursday the ninth of July.

• Rachel Farrell confirmed as Dorset Police chief

  Rachel Farrell has been confirmed as Dorset Police’s next Chief Constable. The current Deputy Chief Constable was approved by the Dorset Police and Crime Panel after being named as the preferred candidate in May. She will replace Amanda Pearson, who is retiring later this summer after leading Dorset Police. Rachel Farrell has served communities in Dorset and Hampshire for more than thirty years, including senior roles tackling serious crime and protecting vulnerable people. She says her priorities include keeping people safe, supporting victims, bringing offenders to justice and maintaining community trust.