A Bournemouth local has compared the seaside town to the Wild West" as he declared Britain's migrant crisis is "out of control".
Speaking to GB News, resident Adam Elcock detailed protests from concerned locals in the town centre today, against the use of migrant hotels in the area.
Protests and counter-protests about the use of migrant hotels have taken place today across dozens of cities in the UK, sparking fiery clashes between groups of concerned locals and Stand up to Racism protesters.
GB News / X
|Adam Elcock says Bournemouth is now like the 'Wild West' as locals protest in the town centre
Speaking to GB News host Charlie Peters, Elcock said Bournemouth's protest was a "fantastic turnout" and a "peaceful march" through the town.
Elcock explained: "It was a fantastic turnout, very peaceful, it was almost like a community festival. Very good turnout. I'd say probably north of 500 here from the count and speaking to one of the police.
"A lot of well-wishers turning up, having a look, people driving around in their cars, flag waving flags, a very good demonstration. There's some good speakers here, and I think it got the point across that the town are simply frustrated with the way it's going."
Noting the presence of counter-protesters, Elcock revealed that between "30 to 40" turned up via coach, protest for two hours and then "got back in their coach and did one".
GB News
|Bournemouth locals marched through the city centre in demonstration against migrant hotels and accommodation
Elcock said: "Probably 30 to 40 we counted over there, and they weren't really that well received. I think they're a bit of a joke, if I'm going to be honest. There's a very mixed message, you've got Stand Up to Racism, you've got the Palestine supporters, you've got people waving ban fox hunting flags, I don't know what their message is.
"I don't think they've got any real legitimacy because we're here trying to support the people of Bournemouth and get the message across, whereas I'm not sure if these people that were shipped in, they turned up in a coach. They did two hours here, waved a few flags, gave out a few pins, and then got back in their coach and did one.
"So I think they're just being ignored now, I think they're becoming a bit of a joke. And I think the bigger picture and question is the people that are turning up to support their towns and cities are doing it in a great way, and we're just going to ignore the white noise from the other side."
Highlighting the changing atmosphere of the town, Elcock compared the feel of Bournemouth now to the "Wild West", and it is "out of control".
GB News
|Elcock told GB News that the industry in Bournemouth is 'suffering' as a result of migrant hotels
Elcock explained: "People in the town are rightfully frustrated that there has been a rise in crime since 2023, which just happens to coincide with when the arrivals and the HMOs and the hotels opened up in town. And when you look at the demographics of the crime rates here against the perpetrators, you can draw a pretty clear conclusion about how that's happening.
"But walking through town, it is a very different place now. The whole atmosphere, the people wandering around that clearly aren't local, the way that they treat local people, they're walking after women, they're shouting out, they're whistling, they're carrying weapons. It is quite literally the Wild West here, and the place is out of control. That's what people are upset about."
Noting the impact on Bournemouth's tourism and economy, he concluded: "And what that means then is we've got a lack of tourism, our industry is suffering. It's a billion pound industry, and that is going down, department stores are leaving and people aren't visiting.
"The hotels are full of tax-paid visitors rather than people that want to come here and spend money. So that's the frustration. We just want a nice, friendly, family centric town that we can all enjoy, and we haven't got that at the moment."