ANGRY residents and councillors in a seaside village have blasted police for failing to warn them about a spate of violent incidents.

As reported in Monday's Echo, Highcliffe's quiet reputation has been shattered over the past fortnight by a ram-raid, vicious mugging and brutal robbery.

But the police failed to tell either the media or locals about the mini-crimewave in the area. Nor did they give any warnings or appeal for any witnesses.

John Mather, chairman of the residents' association, said: "It's a bit terrifying that we're not being given information about what's going on.

"This smacks of a very old-fashioned way of running things, in which the public are kept in the dark.

"Highcliffe is not a Manchester or Birmingham and we are normally the safest place in the world. But these are very serious incidents, and the public deserve to know so that they can take precautions."

The ram-raid was carried out in the early hours of Friday morning at Highcliffe Computers in Lymington Road, with £5,000 worth of equipment stolen.

A week earlier, 64-year-old Diane Burton, who lives opposite Highcliffe police station, was mugged in her own backyard.

And five days before that, a man in Wortley Road was attacked by robbers on his doorstep. They tied him up before snatching jewellery and other items from his house, and escaping in his car.

These incidents have reawakened the debate over Highcliffe's police resources.

Mr Mather said: "We know they want to sell the police station and rent a shop somewhere in town. I know they have very tight budgets, but we need a permanent, manned police station. The events of the past two weeks show exactly why."

Councillors were also shocked to hear about the incidents, and worried about the lack of information from police.

"I'm flabbergasted," said Cllr Trish Jamieson. "If people aren't given the truth by the authorities, rumours get blown up and fear spreads. I can't believe no one has told us anything."

Dorset Police had not commented at the time of going to press.