Appeal after woman forced into car at Bournemouth Station

Detectives in Bournemouth are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward in confidence after a woman appeared to be forced into a vehicle outside the town’s railway station.

The incident in which a man and a woman were seen to force a woman into a dark blue saloon-type car happened outside Bournemouth’s railway station off Holdenhurst Road at around 7.30pm on 14 January.

The car was parked on double yellow lines by the taxi rank - opposite the Asda supermarket and the bus and coach transport interchange.

Officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the incident.

The alarm was raised by a man who was walking past the railway station. He saw a man and a woman of Asian appearance holding another woman by the arms and forcing her into the rear of the car. The second woman was also of Asian appearance.

The vehicle, which is believed to have been displaying a foreign registration, then drove out of the station approach at speed.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “Public safety is our prime concern and we are concerned for the safety and welfare of the woman seen being put into the car.

“It’s important that we ensure that the woman is safe and establish the motives for the man and woman’s behaviour. There could be a perfectly innocent explanation.

“This incident happened at a busy time of day – a train from London had arrived at the railway station some ten minutes before. There were also a number of coaches that would have driven through the travel interchange around the time of the incident.

“The member of the public who saw this was understandably concerned about what he saw and immediately contacted Dorset Police by dialling 999.

“We are appealing for the people involved in the incident to come forward and contact Dorset Police in confidence as soon as possible,” explained the Dorset Police spokesman.

The man that police would like to speak to is described as being in his late 30s to 40s, between five feet nine and five feet eleven inches tall, of slim build and with short dark hair. He was wearing a dark jacket and light coloured trousers.

The woman is described as being aged in her late 30s to mid-40s, five feet seven inches tall and of medium build. She was wearing a light coloured headscarf.

The woman seen being put into the car is described as being younger than the other two, and of slim build. She was wearing a brown one-piece outfit and a headscarf.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 01202 222 222 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.