A MAN in his 20s was stabbed in Bournemouth town centre as police hunt for offender.

Officers were called to assist the ambulance service at 6.20pm on Monday, August 26 after reports that a man had been stabbed in Bournemouth Lower Gardens.

The man, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital with an injury that is not believed to be life threatening.

Police are searching for the offender who is described to be a teenage boy aged between 17 and 18 years old, with blond or brown hair and wearing a blue tracksuit at the time.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “At 6.20pm on Monday 26 August 2024, Dorset Police received a report from the ambulance service that a man had been stabbed in the Lower Gardens near Bournemouth Pier.

“Officers and the ambulance services attended and the victim, a local man in his twenties was taken to hospital with an injury that is not believed to be life-threatening.

“Officers are conducting enquiries and are searching the area. No arrests have been made.

“The offender is described as a teenage boy, approximately 17 or 18 years old with blond or brown hair. He was wearing a blue tracksuit.”

Detective inspector Charlotte Alexander, of Dorset Police, said: “Our investigation is in the very early stages and we are making a number of enquiries to establish what exactly happened and find the person responsible.

“I am appealing for any witnesses who have not yet spoken with officers to please contact us.

“There will be an increased police presence in the area and anyone with information or concerns please approach one of our officers.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 26:466. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.

A spokesperson for Southwestern Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 18:19hrs on Monday 26 August to an incident in Bournemouth.

"We sent one double-crewed land ambulance, and a critical care car to the scene.

"We conveyed one patient by land ambulance to Poole Hospital."