Reform councillor faces calls to apologise after repeating false claims on TV
Dorset Police has debunked claims from a Reform councillor claims linking asylum seekers to sex crimes
A Reform UK councillor is facing growing pressure to apologise after repeating false claims about asylum seekers and sexual offences during a national television interview, prompting accusations that he had helped spread misinformation and fear within the community.
During an appearance on TalkTV, Reform councillor Cameron Adams was asked about claims that migrants made up “0.6%” of Bournemouth’s population but were responsible for “40%” of pending prosecutions in sex crime cases.
The figures have previously been publicly debunked by Dorset Police, Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner and the fact-checking organisation Full Fact.
Police data showed that between January 2025 and March 2026 there were eight reported sexual offences in Bournemouth involving alleged offenders associated with asylum accommodation.
During the same period, 808 sexual offences were reported across the town overall - approximately 1% rather than the widely circulated figure of 44%.
Cllr Adams insisted he had not personally stated the disputed statistic during the interview and said he could not comment on its origin.
“I stand by the facts I relied upon,” he said, referring to separate claims that 148 offences had been committed by illegal migrants residing in three migrant hotels between 2023 and March 2025.
He accused authorities of focusing too narrowly on asylum hotels while failing to address broader concerns raised by residents about crime and disorder.
But Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick, warned of the dangers of circulating misleading information.
“This is not about politics – it is about facts, responsibility and public trust,” he said. “The consequences of sharing misinformation are very real.”
Councillors across the political spectrum at BCP Council have since called on Adams to apologise publicly.
Independent councillor Kate Salmon said misinformation about asylum seekers risked inflaming fear and distracting from efforts to tackle violence against women.
“Sexual violence and women’s safety are far too serious to be exploited through misinformation. It strikes fear in our community,” she said.
Green group leader Chris Rigby accused Cllr Adams of damaging Bournemouth’s reputation using figures “the police have publicly called false”.
He said: “I am not going to sit quietly while an elected councillor goes on national television and tells the country Bournemouth has gone to the gutter.
“When an elected councillor spreads fear using incorrect figures, the fear that follows is not caused by asylum seekers. It’s caused by the councillor.”
Meanwhile, Labour leader Patrick Canavan said the claims risked undermining trust in legitimate policing data and inflaming tensions within communities.