No safer place to live in England - Dorset Police

Integrity Professionalism Fairness Respect
East Dorset, North Dorset,
Christchurch, Purbeck
Bourton
Gillingham
East
Stour
Shaftesbury
Fontmell
Magna
Sixpenny
Handley
Iwerne
Cranborne
Minster Tarrant
Child
Gunville
Gussage
Okeford
St Michael Wimborne
NORTH DORSET
St Giles Verwood
Stourpaine
Blandford
Camp
Woodlands
PS
Winterborne BLANDFORD
EAST DORSET
St Ives
Stickland
Holt
West
Tarrant
Moors
Milton
Keyneston
FERNDOWN
Abbas
Wimborne
Winterborne
Sturminster
Whitechurch
Newton
West
Parley
Lytchett
Hurn
Matravers
Bere Regis East
CHRISTCHURCH
Morden
Affpuddle
PS
Highcliffe
Sandford
Moreton
Bovington
PS
Wool
WAREHAM
Winfrith
Newburgh PURBECK
Studland
Creech Corfe
East
West
Castle
Llulworth
Llulworth
Kimmeridge
Swanage
Worth
Matravers
●●● News and reports from your local police service
No safer place to live in England
Helping to make Eastern Division the safest place in England are police community support
officers (PCSOs). Pictured here are Wimborne PCSOs Tracey Downer and Matt Johnson,
introducing young people to policing at a community open day.
People living in the area covered by the
Eastern Division of Dorset Police have
settled in the safest place in England according
to crime statistics published by the Home Office.
In Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset
and Purbeck, fewer than 17 crimes are
committed per 1,000 residents, per year -
lower than anywhere else in the country
and second to just one other policing division
in rural Wales. This means you are less likely
Dorset Police - fit for the future
For the first time in seven years there has been a decrease of 1.6 per
cent in violent crime across Dorset. Offences with injuries show an
even more dramatic reduction as a result of us stepping in early and
arresting troublemakers across Dorset. Because people in Dorset have
protected their property, we now live in a county where burglary and
car crime is at a 10 year low - and with your continued support it could
be even lower.
2006 proved to be an exceptional year for taking the profit out of crime.
Dorset Police seized over £3.5 million in assets from criminals (including
£1.8million in cash) under the Proceeds of Crime Act. This enabled us
to reach more people with advice on protecting themselves and their
property and to provide the technology needed to help control serious
and organised crime at all levels.
Safer Neighbourhood Teams continue to be rolled out across the
county, with completion planned for March 2008. This means that we
will be working more closely with our partners and communities to
further improve the quality of life of local people. By listening,
understanding and taking action, we are already dealing with the
concerns and problems, such as those caused by anti-social
behaviour, which can blight your daily lives. Safer Neighbourhood
Teams will give you much better access to our officers and staff and
significantly greater influence on how local problems are solved.
to be a victim of crime here than in any other part
of England.
Violent crime levels are particularly low, as are
the number of domestic burglaries and vehicle
crimes. There are fewer than eight violent crimes
per 1,000 residents living in the Eastern Division
of Dorset Police, which means you are less likely
to become the victim of a violent crime in this
area than anywhere else in England. For the
purposes of comparison, areas such as Salisbury
and Chippenham record more than 10 violent
crimes per 1,000 residents and Southampton,
more than 35 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.
Superintendent Lynn Hart, Eastern Divisional
Commander (in charge of policing Christchurch,
East Dorset, North Dorset and Purbeck) said: “It
is reassuring for those of us who live and work in
this area to know that there is nowhere safer in
the country. Over the last year crime in Eastern
Division has continued to fall - showing a
decrease of seven per cent. The number of
assaults has gone down by 15 per cent and we
have continued to build on last year’s dramatic 26
per cent fall in domestic burglary by reducing it by
a further 15 per cent. Theft from motor vehicles
has also gone down by a huge 30 per cent.”
Following the decision by the Home Office in June 2006 not to go
ahead with police force mergers, we need to further develop policing
services in Dorset to meet future challenges. These include:
●●● providing ‘protective services’ to a defined level in respect of the
most serious threats
●●● completing the roll-out of Safer Neighbourhoods (neighbourhood
policing)
●●● maximising the potential of our workforce
●●● becoming even more effective and efficient by sharing more
services with other forces and organisations
As well as addressing these important issues we have extended our
services to meet local needs and expectations while meeting national
standards. In addition, despite a low level of central funding, Dorset
Police still maintains its place in the top quarter of all forces in the
country, within a county that is one of the most popular and safe places
to live, learn, work and visit in England and Wales.
While Dorset is still one of the safest places to live in the country we
are determined to make it even safer. By continuing to work with us
and by keeping us informed about what is happening in your local
area, we can make Dorset even safer and achieve our vision of A
Safer Dorset for You.
Statistics can, of course, be confusing but the
reassuring fact for Eastern Division residents is
that these percentage decreases are based on
very small numbers of crimes. You will see on
page two, how the division compares to its other
most similar areas in the country and on page 15
you will see that this fall in crime has been
consistent over nearly a decade.
Superintendent Hart continued: “These figures do
not make us complacent. We will continue to
work with our communities and our partners in
local authorities, health, fire and housing, to drive
crime down even further.
“We also know that statistics are not everything
and it is important to address the issues that can
affect how safe you FEEL in your communities.
Over the course of the next year, Safer
Neighbourhood Teams are being launched
across the division to ensure the community
safety issues that matter most to you, our
residents, are being addressed - read more about
how you can get involved on page two.”
Contents
3 Foreword from the
Chief Constable
and Chairman of
the Police Authority
4 Annual Report
5 Christchurch
6 East Dorset
8 150th
Anniversary events
9 How to contact us
11 North Dorset
12 Purbeck
16 Younger Dorset
COPYRIGHT DORSET POLICE 2007

Eastern
Less likely to be a victim
A big thank you!
As highlighted on the front page, Eastern Division has a lower
number of crimes per 1,000 residents than anywhere else in
England but to get a better idea of how this area looks against
other, similar areas, take a look at the table on the right.
In order to compare how low crime is in Eastern Division, the
Home Office groups this area with 14 other areas in England that
share similar characteristics, including the fact that crime is
relatively low compared to different areas of the country. These
‘most similar’ policing divisions include Salisbury in Wiltshire, the
New Forest in Hampshire, Cotswold and Stroud in
Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
To give you an idea of how unlikely you are to be a victim of
crime, the table shows the numbers of crimes per thousand
residents in Eastern Division compared to some of its most similar
forces. It also shows where Eastern Division comes in the ‘league
table of low crime’ compared with those 14 other divisions (first
being lowest crime and fifteenth being the highest in the table).
Get involved and make your community safer
Look out for this logo for your opportunity to
influence community safety priorities in your
area.
By April 2008 every area across Eastern
Division of Dorset Police will have a dedicated
Safer Neighbourhood Team - made up of
police officers, police community support
officers (PCSOs), local authority workers and
members of other partner organisations.
These teams build on the role of the
Community Beat Officers (CBOs) - police
constables who have played an important
role in policing Christchurch, East Dorset,
North Dorset and Purbeck for a number of
Eastern Division of Dorset Police is not only
made up of warranted police officers, there are
also many police staff, working both in the
community and behind the scenes to make
Dorset safer.
Below are just three examples of different
positions within Dorset Police:
Police Community Support Officer
Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)
are not only becoming a well known and
reassuring face of Dorset Police throughout
Eastern Division’s communities, they are also
developing and working on initiatives which
are helping to reduce and prevent crime and
anti-social behaviour. The main focus for a
PCSO is, as a vital member of a Safer
Neighbourhood Team, building relations with
the public and local partnerships.
Ferndown PCSO Sara Freestone says: “No
two days are the same, which makes a
PCSO’s role very interesting. We want people
in the community to get to know who we are
and what we can do to help them. By doing
this we can work with them to make their
neighbourhood a better place to live in.”
Next time you see a PCSO on patrol in your
years. The CBOs will now be
joined by PCSOs and partners to
work with you, members of our
communities, to address the issues
that matter to you the most.
Your Safer Neighbourhood Team
will be accessible to you. They will
make sure that you, as residents of
a neighbourhood, have every
opportunity to let them know what
concerns you. Through a process
called Partners and Communities Together
(PACT) your Safer Neighbourhood Team will
work in partnership to give you a voice, allow
you to influence their priorities and
encourage you to get involved in finding
sustainable solutions to community issues.
They will do this through community
meetings, surgeries, street corner meetings,
door knocks, and other activities. Look
out for the PACT logo (pictured) for your
chance to influence community safety issues
in your neighbourhood.
area why not stop them for a chat?
Station Desk Officer
”The role of a Station Desk Officer (SDO) is
varied, interesting, challenging, demanding and
also rewarding,” says Ken McEwen who has
As Safer Dorset went to print, Eastern
Division already had Safer Neighbourhood
Teams set up in Blandford, Shaftesbury,
Gillingham and Christchurch. Teams will
continue to roll out throughout 2007 and the
beginning of 2008 when, by April, 30 Safer
Neighbourhood Teams will be working with
you for an Eastern Division that is safe and
feels safe.
To find out about Safer Neighbourhoods
in your town or village, give your local
police station a call. See the following
pages for details:
Christchurch page 5;
East Dorset (Wimborne, Verwood and
Ferndown) page 6;
North Dorset (Blandford, Shaftesbury
and Gillingham) page 11;
Purbeck (Wareham and Swanage)
page 12.
Back and front of house - police staff help to make Dorset safer
Working together behind the scenes. Picture here are Station Desk Officer Ken McEwen,
Police Community Support Officer Sara Freestone and Crime Analyst Rob Clementi.
done the job for 13 years.
An SDO is the first point of contact for
members of the public visiting or telephoning a
police station. Ken said: ”There is no knowing
who you may be dealing with from one minute
Special Constables are a vital part of
the Eastern Division team. Pictured:
Special Constables Sam Large and
Natalie Shaw.
On behalf of the all the communities within
Eastern Division, Dorset Police would like to
say a big ’thank you’ to all the volunteers
who contribute to making the county safer.
Special Constables and Dorset police
volunteers are invaluable support to the
police officers and staff working in the
community. They give freely of their time to
patrol the streets (in the case of Specials), to
monitor CCTV and provide administrative
support to Safer Neighbourhood Teams (in
the case of volunteers).
One example of the dedication of these
generous members of the community is the
Eastern Division Volunteer of the Year 2006,
Geoff Hughes, who staffs the Ferndown
Police Community Office three times a
week. And Special Constables in Swanage -
Geoff Meehan, April Barker and Karl
Harrison - won a South West regional award
at the end of last year for their initiatives to
target anti-social behaviour at Studland.
Superintendent Lynn Hart, Eastern
Divisional Commander, said: “Our aim is to
make Eastern Division safer and feel safer
and the help of Special Constables and
volunteers plays a big part in that, for which
we are very grateful. In addition, the many
people within our communities who give up
their time to organise and contribute to
Neighbourhood and Homewatch schemes
are also an invaluable part of the team.
Thank you.”
to the next. It could be a victim of crime or road
traffic collision, reports of neighbourhood and
domestic disputes, abandoned vehicles or
anti-social behaviour, to someone just wanting
directions, advice or reassurance.”
Information Management Unit Analyst
Crime analysis - often called ‘Intelligence analysis’
or ‘Criminal Intelligence analysis’ - is a law
enforcement profession dedicated to identification
and analysis of patterns, trends and problems in
crime and disorder, with a view to recommending
appropriate solutions. Analysts support the
investigation, prevention and reduction of crime by
studying crime reports, intelligence logs and
incidents, evaluating intelligence, preparing
statistics, data queries, or maps on demands and
analysing criminal behaviour.
Rob Clementi, Eastern Division Crime Analyst, said:
“We find links between crimes and then help police
officers to identify likely offenders. Our big
involvement currently is supporting Safer
Neighbourhoods Teams in increasing community
intelligence and information.”
2

Making Dorset Safer and Making Dorset Feel Safer
Chief Constable Martin Baker, QPM and
Chairman of The Police Authority Michael Taylor, CBE
Foreword from the Chief Constable and
the Chairman of Dorset Police Authority
Dorset Police and Dorset Police Authority are united in
their aim to achieve two clear strategic objectives - To
Make Dorset Safer and To Make Dorset Feel Safer.
We remain determined in our efforts to achieve this and we are
succeeding. Figures for the operational year 2006/2007 reveal
significant reductions in vehicle crime, house burglary, criminal
damage and personal robbery, with burglary and vehicle crime
at its lowest for ten years. Furthermore, our sanctioned
detection rate is one of the highest in England and Wales, which
means that criminals are more likely to get caught here than
almost anywhere else in the country!
Further details about the Force’s performance in 2006/07 are
given in the Annual Report, which appears on the next page.
Residents, businesses, and visitors to Dorset can take
reassurance from the fact that Dorset is one of the lowest crime
areas in the Country. These results are to the great credit, not
only of all our operational officers and staff, but also to all of
those who support them in both paid and volunteer roles and we
would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this
outstanding achievement.
The Annual Policing Plan for 2007/08 has been framed within a
Three Year Strategy that provides direction to the Force by
setting out clearly our operational priorities and key enablers
that directly support those priorities. The Operational Priorities
and Key Enablers for 2007/08 appear on page 7 of this edition
of ‘Safer Dorset’, along with the challenging targets that have
been set to measure the Force’s success.
In terms of funding, this year the Government Grant to Dorset
Police Authority has risen by only 3.6%. Dorset Police receives
the second lowest government grant per head of population of
all police forces. If we received the average settlement of county
forces nationally, we would receive an additional £11 million per
year from central government. Against that background,
although our budget for 2007/08 allows no scope for additional
police officers, it will maintain our operational strength and
support the completion of the roll-out of Safer Neighbourhood
Teams across the county, including the deployment of additional
Police Community Support Officers.
To ensure that we improve the capacity and capability of Dorset
Police and continue to deliver a high level of service to the
communities of Dorset, a comprehensive review of the Force is
underway, which will include consultation with stakeholders,
partners, members of the public and staff. The specific aims of
the review include:
●●● Completing the roll-out of Safer Neighbourhood Teams
across the Dorset Police area
●●● Enhancing ‘protective services’ to guard against terrorism
and tackle cross-border organised crime
●●● Making the most efficient use of finite resources
●●● Seeking opportunities to further collaborate and share
services with other police forces and organisations
●●● Continuing to develop effective partnerships
●●● Meeting the needs and expectations of the public
●●● Providing the necessary support and resources for police
officers and staff
The review will help to ensure that we continue to improve on
the current level of performance and that Dorset remains one of
the safest places to live, learn, work and visit in the Country.
The plan that will result from this work will be called Dorset
2010, because by March 2010 we must have completed any
work emanating from the project. This deadline is important - in
2011 and 2012 we will be mounting major policing operations in
relation to the 2012 Olympic Games and we must be fully
prepared and able to police this major event alongside all our
other responsibilities.
Beyond local policing, we are working to enhance our protective
services to guard against terrorism and tackle organised crime.
We are also seeking new opportunities to collaborate and share
services with neighbouring forces to improve still further our
efficiency and effectiveness.
Dorset is becoming Safer and feeling Safer, and we thank the
communities of Dorset for the support that they continue to give
to Dorset Police.
Embracing Diversity
The Police Authority values diversity and is committed to
promoting understanding and confidence within the
community, ensuring that every person who receives
services or is affected by the Authority’s activities is
treated with respect, free from harassment, bullying,
victimisation or discrimination. We are committed to
working to increase trust and confidence in policing
amongst our communities and recognise that a greater
focus on the needs of communities and individuals has
the capacity to deliver real benefits in terms of more
informed decision-making and better targeted services
and policies.
We promote transparency and accountability for the way
in which both the Authority and the Force deliver their
functions, policies and services and have introduced three
equality schemes that demonstrate our commitment to
equality in relation to Race, Disability and Gender. The
Police Authority has a key role in ensuring that the Force
deliver their own specific duties and in this regard, the
Police Authority and Force share a commitment to making
the workforce representative of the communities we serve.
The Police Authority supports the use of
police ‘Stop and search’ powers to help
the police make our communities safer by
combating street crime and anti-social
behaviour and preventing more serious
crime. However, we expect these powers
to be used fairly and consistently. You
should expect the police to treat you fairly
and with respect and if you feel you were
treated differently because of your race,
age, sexuality, gender, disability, religion or faith further
details of how to complain can be found on our website
www.dpa.police.uk
Custody Visiting
Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs) are local volunteers drawn
from all walks of life whose main role is to provide an independent
check on the welfare of people who are detained at police
stations. They do this by making random visits in pairs to police
stations throughout the County and reporting their findings.
There are currently 25 Independent Custody Visitors who make
regular visits to all of the Dorset Police custody centres and also
meet quarterly to discuss their findings on a Panel chaired by Mrs
Kathie Emery, a former Police Authority member. Commenting on
the custody visiting scheme Mrs Emery explained:
“Custody Visitors are appointed by the Police Authority and
are totally independent of the police force. They carry out an
important and highly valued role that helps to strengthen
police accountability.
“The job of a custody visitor is
very important. Detainees are
able to raise concerns about
their detention with the custody
visitor who can then raise the
issue with officers to solve the
problem” she added.
We currently have a sufficient
number of volunteers and will
not be recruiting additional
visitors generally this year.
However, to help ensure that our
panel of visitors is representative
of the whole community, we
would be pleased to hear from
Mrs Kathie Emery
ICV Panel Chairman
members of our minority ethnic communities who are interested in
joining the Panel.
More general information about custody visiting is available on the
Independent Custody Visiting Association website at
www.icva.org.uk
Ensuring an Efficient and
Effective Police Service
Dorset Police Authority has a legal duty to ensure that
your local police force is efficient and effective - the Chief
Constable is responsible for the control and direction of
Dorset Police.
Members' Allowances
The Police Authority operates a Members’ Allowance
Scheme that is reviewed annually. The current Scheme
together with details of the amounts payable is available
on our website: www.dpa.police.uk
Getting More Information
We realise that not everyone has access to our website -
so if you’d like us to send you any information we have
referred to, or if you’d like any more general information
about the work of the Police Authority, please write to:
Martin Goscomb, Chief Executive to the Dorset Police
Authority, Force Headquarters, Winfrith, Dorchester
DT2 8DZ.
3

Annual Report by the
Police Authority
2006/07
2006/07 has seen continuing strong performance from the Force in the majority
of areas. Latest survey results show further increases in the level of satisfaction
with the services provided by Dorset Police across the board. The Force has
the highest level of overall satisfaction when compared with its family of most
similar forces. Confidence in local policing stands at 60%, the highest in the
Force’s family of most similar forces. Crime has reduced by 6.1% and the
sanction detection rate has increased to 29%. The number of offences brought
to justice continues to increase with almost 2,000 more offences being brought
to justice compared to last year, resulting in the Force exceeding its target by
13%. Further significant achievements include decreases of 7.1% in BCS
volume crime, 23.9% in domestic burglary and 20.8% in vehicle crime.
The table on the right provides a summary of the performance at 31 March
2007 for each of the operational priorities set out in Dorset’s 2006/07 local
annual policing plan and it will be seen that successes were achieved in nearly
all areas. The level of violent crime continues to be a serious concern for the
Authority though we acknowledge that the vast majority of the additional
offences in this category of crime relate to ‘less serious’ offences, particularly
relating to public order and harassment. Against this background it is pleasing
to be able to report that overall violent crime has fallen by 1.8% with the
detection rate for violent crime increasing by 3.7%. Figures for robbery show a
decrease of 25.5%. Please note that there are a variety of other targets which
can be viewed on our website at www.dpa.police.uk.
Overall, in 2006/07 the Force continued to deliver excellent services to ensure
that Dorset remains a safe place in which to live, learn, work and visit. We have
a force of which we can be justifiably proud and we are indebted to all officers
and staff for their continuing high levels of commitment and professionalism.
The Financial Position
How Much We Spent Last Year
In 2006/2007 the Authority planned to spend £103.056m.
Final figures for the year are not yet available but it is
predicted that spending will vary from that plan by less than
1% of budget. Final expenditure figures will be available from
July (see below). These charts (see diagrams below) show
what we spent the money on, and where the money came
from
Where can I find out more?
●●● A council tax leaflet will be sent to each household and
business property in March. This contains full details of the
year’s council tax
●●● A newspaper (‘Safer Dorset’) detailing the policing plan for
2007/2008 will be circulated to households by the end of June
●●● A more detailed version of the policing plan, including an
analysis of capital and revenue expenditure, can be found
on www.dorset.police.uk
●●● If you still have unanswered queries, you can Email detailed
queries to council.tax@dorset.pnn.police.uk or you can write
to Dorset Police Authority, Force Headquarters, Dorchester,
Dorset DT2 8DZ
●●● The accounts for 2006/2007 will be available from July 2007
onwards; the public is entitled to inspect them and ask
questions about them
●●● The Police Authority meets in December and February to
discuss the budget for the following year. These meetings
are open to the public; times and locations are posted at
Police Headquarters, on www.dorset.police.uk and in the
local press
Your Views
Matter to Us
Dorset Police and Dorset Police Authority are committed to
ensuring a high quality of service to all users of its services.
Meaningful consultation and positive interaction between the
police and communities are fundamental to this commitment.
Each year the Police Authority and the Force undertake a range
of consultation to find out which issues you feel are important in
the provision of policing services as well as the levels of
satisfaction with those services. These include various surveys
including community safety and victim surveys.
The introduction of Safer Neighbourhood Teams across the
County will provide a further opportunity to identify and address
local policing priorities.
Your views matter because each year, after consulting with the
local community and the Chief Constable, the Authority sets the
budget and agrees the policing plan which sets out the priorities
for the year ahead.
Members of the Police Authority are also available regularly to
meet you and hear your comments first hand and details of our
community engagement programme can be found on our website:
www.dpa.police.uk
*Other includes: Intelligence analysis, false alarms, missing persons, suspicious deaths, licensing, court duties.
Mrs Janet Dover consulting the public in Bournemouth
4

Christchurch
Winning the anti-social
behaviour battle
Christchurch currently
has the best record of
sustained anti-social
behaviour reduction -
11.5 per cent - in the whole of Dorset.
The team, which includes police officers, police
community support officers (PCSOs) and partner
agencies, puts this down to the success of the
‘traffic light system’ in place to deal with
anti-social behaviour (ASB).
‘Green’ is the first time someone comes to
notice. Their details and those of the incident are
logged and a letter is sent to the offender’s
home. If the offender is under 18 years of age
the letter is addressed to the parent or guardian.
‘Amber’ is the second time someone comes to
notice, where a second stage letter is hand
delivered by a community beat officer or a
PCSO and a discussion is held with regards to
the ongoing ASB. These meetings aim to
consider what can be done to prevent the
behaviour from escalating and services from
other multi-agency partners are offered.
Information on Acceptable Behaviour Contracts
(ABC) - which are entered into voluntarily - and
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO) - which
are enforceable - is given.
‘Red’ is the third time someone comes to notice.
The incident details are again logged and data is
collated into a file of all involvement with ASB.
A case conference is arranged with multi-agency
partners ensuring that everyone that can be of
assistance to offer help and support to the
offender is invited to attend.The case is then
reviewed and a decision is made as to whether
an ABC or ASBO is pursued or to just monitor
the situation before intervening further.
All the incidents in the traffic light system are
reviewed on a weekly basis. All new anti-social
offenders are added and existing ones are
updated. As soon as an offender reaches the
third stage, information collation automatically
starts should there be a need to pursue an
application for an ASBO.
Christchurch Inspector, Andy Earley, said: “This
system has enabled us to intervene in the early
stages before criminal offences escalate. In
many cases we have assisted offenders with
help and support from multi-agencies and
allowed them to have a new start in life. We are
also able to assist their families with support and
help and prevent anti-social behaviour being
passed onto siblings or children.”
Police were grateful for the
co-operation of residents in the
600m exclusion zone.
East
Parley
Hurn Forest
Bournemouth
International
Airport
Partners pull together to diffuse
bomb incident
Back in May of last year, more than 110
Police Officers and Police Community
Support Officer’s were involved in a major
operation to evacuate around 1,200 homes
in a 600-metre exclusion zone, following the
discovery of a Second World War bomb in a
garden in Mudeford, Christchurch.
This huge, multi-agency operation - which
ended with the bomb being removed and
destroyed by Army experts - also involved
other police staff, local authority staff, the
Maritime and Coastguard Agency; district
nursing and community hospital staff; and
Hurn
Winkton
Throop
Burton
Jumpers
Common
CHRISTCHURCH
Somerford
PS
Highcliffe
Stanpit
Mudeford
volunteers, including Special Constables, the
Salvation Army and the Women’s Royal
Voluntary Service. All in all, 250 people were
involved.
Superintendent Lynn Hart, who led the
operation, said: “This was a fantastic effort
from everyone and has demonstrated the
incredible partnership working we have here
in Dorset and we are extremely grateful for
the co-operation we received from the
Mudeford residents during what must have
been a trying time for them.”
Town crier, Keith Jackman, Inspector Andy Earley and
Katherine Dew, former Christchurch Community Safety Officer,
extol the virtues of emptying your car of valuables.
Shouting about crime prevention
Last December Dorset Police and the Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnership (CDRP) turned to a traditional method of communication
to shout about a modern crime - satellite navigation system theft.
Christchurch Town Crier, Keith Jackman, attended the town’s
Christmas Festival to broadcast the CDRP’s Christmas messages to
the townsfolk.
Inspector Andy Earley, Eastern Dorset CDRP’s lead on vehicle crime,
and Christchurch Section Commander said: “As always, the simple
message is, if you don’t leave anything in your car, it won’t get stolen.
We would like people to get into the habit of taking their sat nav
equipment - including the cradles - out of their cars and wanted to find
a memorable way of getting the message across. We are grateful to
Keith Jackman for offering his services and to the town council for
allowing us to take part in the festivities.”
Keith Jackman was not only advising people on how to prevent crime,
but he also gave a shout about how safe a place Christchurch is to live,
where vehicle crime, for example, has gone down by 57 per cent in the
last eight years.
The bomb discovered in a
Mudeford garden.
Get in touch:
Inspector Andy Earley
At the beginning of last year significant
progress had been made in reducing
dwelling burglary in the Christchurch
section. However, theft from unattended
motor cars was identified as an
emerging problem. This problem has
been tackled head-on and there has
been a 46 per cent reduction in this type
of crime. Dwelling burglary has been
reduced by a further 23 per cent and
violence against the person offences by
19 per cent. Overall a very successful
year.
●
●
●
Kyle Butler from the Purewell area of
Christchurch, kicked a stranger in the
face causing serious injuries, and was
subsequently convicted of Grievous
Bodily Harm (GBH) and was sentenced
to nine months imprisonment in October
of last year.
Following an argument with a fellow dog
walker, Ron Smallshire from Highcliffe,
stabbed the male upwards of 19 times
with a steak knife. Smallshire was
convicted in September 2006 of causing
Grievous Bodily Harm with intent and
sentenced to six and a half years
imprisonment.
A 17-year-old persistent burglar was
jailed after he was caught on camera
leaving the scene of the crime in
Christchurch.
Joe Porter was photographed leaving the
house that he had burgled moments earlier,
last October.
Porter, who was on licence after being
released from jail three weeks earlier, later
pleaded guilty to burglary and he was
sentenced to 24 months in prison at
Bournemouth Crown Court.
Detective Constable Neil Montrose of
Eastern CID said: “Porter was a persistent
offender and stole small valuable items of
personal property from the house.
“He was identified following a witness
coming forward with a picture he had taken
showing the offender leaving the scene of
the crime. This action by the witness is an
excellent example of how the public can
help bring offenders to justice.”
Call 01202 22 22 22* and ask
for:
Christchurch Section Commander:
Inspector Andy Earley (pictured)
Neighbourhood Station Sergeant:
Sergeant Malcolm Warriner
Christchurch Police Station
Barrack Road, Christchurch
Open 0800 - 2000 Monday - Sunday
Christchurch@dorset.pnn.police.uk
Highcliffe Police Station
409 Lymington Road, Highcliffe
Open 0900 - 1300 Monday to Saturday
Highcliffe@dorset.pnn.police.uk
*Only call 999 if a crime is in progress or
lives are in danger.
5

East Dorset
Gussage
St Michael
Holt
Wimborne
Wimborne
St Giles
Cranborne
Woodlands
EAST DORSET
Verwood
West
Moors DHQ
FERNDOWN
West
Parley
St Ives
Partnership provides
youths with facilities
Payback for vandalism
Restorative Justice is a principle that defines
crime and wrongdoing as injury. It brings victims,
offenders and communities together to decide
on a response to a particular crime. It’s about
putting victims’ needs at the centre of the
criminal justice system and finding positive
solutions to crime by encouraging offenders to
face up to their actions and make amends
directly to the people or organisations they have
harmed.
This restorative approach was used when
five youths vandalised a youth club at
Colehill, Wimborne. And it was heralded a
success by all concerned.
The meeting involved Pete Holland, former
Wimborne and Verwood Section Commander,
Tim Gallivan, Wimborne Sergeant, Jon Sweet,
Safe Schools and Communities Officer for East
Dorset, Bob Bailey, the Anti-social Behaviour
Reduction Officer for East Dorset District
Council, the five youths, their parents and the
school. It resulted in the young people paying
£160 for the damage they caused on The Reef
Youth club.
PC Jon Sweet said: “The youths involved are
taking responsibility and are doing something
about it. This was a very difficult but necessary
process where we dealt with people’s personal
and emotional feelings. It was a negative
situation, which we have taken and turned into
something positive, delivering justice.”
The meeting was such a success that every
parent and young person thanked and praised
the session.
A parent of one of the offenders said: “I felt that
bringing the five boys together and including
their parents in a restorative justice meeting has
clearly helped everyone understand the
damage, hurt and distress they have caused.”
Jon Sweet also pointed out this wasn’t the easy
option or way out for the youths. They still had
their fingerprints and DNA swabs taken so that if
they were to re-offend they would go straight to
court.
He said: “The Safe Schools and Communities
Team is here to help and support. We want the
public to be aware of how we can assist them.”
Reaching out to the community
Restorative Justice is a practice used by
Eastern Division’s Safe Schools and
Communities team. Their logo was
designed by local schoolchildren.
The type of approach used in this meeting at
Colehill will be developed by the team to involve
members of the community in the form of
Community Justice Panels.
Get in touch:
The East Dorset Community Partnership and
Eastern Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnership (CDRP) - of which Dorset Police is a
member - have been working together and with
other agencies to develop youth facilities at the
Heatherlands Community Centre on the
Heatherlands Estate in Ferndown.
As well as the re-establishment of a youth club,
two new youth workers have been appointed
and a drop-in centre has been created within the
community centre.
The CDRP has funded the improvement of the
area at the back of the centre with the provision
of goal ends and basketball hoops. This will
increase the opportunity for play on the estate,
and with funding from East Dorset Housing
Association there will be some coached football
sessions provided as well.
Martha Perry, East Dorset Community Safety
Officer says: “The drop-in is proving very
popular with young people, some of whom are
not in employment or education and therefore it
is very important to provide them with
somewhere that they can go to get information
on a wide range of issues. This is an excellent
example of partnership working to improve the
environment for everyone on the estate.”
Penny’s Walk was the location of a multi-agency information day, organised by Ferndown
Police.
Wimborne, Verwood, and Ferndown Police teams have been concentrating on engaging with their
communities over the last year, with a lot of success. Open days at police stations and within the
community, police station moves to rural villages and a multi-agency vulnerable person’s event have
all given a wide cross section of the community the chance to make contacts with local police.
Inspector Ernie Henley
Call 01202 22 22 22* and ask
for:
Section Commander for East Dorset
(Ferndown, Wimborne and Verwood):
Inspector Ernie Henley (pictured)
Ferndown Neighbourhood Station Sergeant:
Sgt Neil Leat
Wimborne Neighbourhood Station
Sergeant:
Sgt Tim Gallivan
Verwood Neighbourhood Station Sergeant:
Sgt Richard Partridge
Ferndown Police Station
Ameysford Road,
Ferndown
Open 0800 - 1800 Monday - Sunday
ferndown@dorset.pnn.police.uk
The previous year 2005/2006 had seen
a 15 per cent reduction in overall crime
in East Dorset and it was always going
to be a challenge to sustain this level of
reduction. Theft from vehicles has
reduced again by 30 per cent but there
were 15 more dwelling burglaries than
the previous year. Violence against the
person offences remains static and there
has been a slight increase in criminal
damage offences.
PC Mark Creasey introduces Verwood
youngsters to the policing world
A Wimborne man who scarred a
teenager for life after thrusting a broken
bottle into his face twice has been jailed
for 21 months.
During sentencing in September, the
judge warned others who take part in
alcohol-fuelled violence that they will
also face the wrath of the courts.
Darren Edney, 30, admitted unlawful
wounding outside of TJs nightclub in
Wimborne in the early hours of 19
March 2006.
Wimborne Police Station
Hanham Road, Wimborne
Open 0900 - 1700 Monday - Friday
and 0900 - 1300 Saturday
Wimborne@dorset.pnn.police.uk
Verwood Police Station
Station Road, Verwood
Open 0900 - 1700 Monday - Friday
and 0900 - 1300 Saturday
Verwood@dorset.pnn.police.uk
*Only call 999 if a crime is in progress or
lives are in danger.
6

Your Force in Your Community
Committed to A Safer Dorset for You still
remains the Dorset Police vision for
2007/2008. Our communities in Dorset need
and deserve excellent policing and the highest
quality service. They want a police service that
listens to its communities, that fully engages
with them to understand their needs and
concerns, that keeps them informed of the
progress we are making on their behalf, that
protects them and, most importantly, keeps
them safe. We know because we asked
them. Consequently, all our efforts will be
continue to be directed at achieving our two
clear aims of not only Making Dorset Safer
but Making Dorset Feel Safer through the
provision of a high quality service fit for
the future.
Our aims are to balance local needs and
priorities with government requirements as
outlined in the National Community Safety
Plan 2006/09. Using our values of integrity,
professionalism, fairness and respect, we will
drive forward our plan by:
■ Continuing to introduce Neighbourhood
Policing Teams across the Force area
■ Improving Contact Management and Quality
of Service Standards
■ Improving ‘Protective Services’ for tackling
the most serious crimes and incidents,
building on existing collaborative working
with other forces and other agencies
■ Professionalising our Investigations through
additional training and capability
■ Improving the service to victims and
witnesses by delivering the principles of
Simple, Speedy, Summary Justice
■ Better management of police information,
including compliance with the new Code on
the Management of Police Information
■ Effective use of the National Intelligence
Model
■ Valuing and developing our partnerships,
including those that will assist us in achieving
the capability and capacity to respond
effectively to major incidents and events
■ Ensuring our workforce is representative of
our diverse communities
■Improving Force Business Continuity Planning
■ Supporting and valuing our staff and
delivering as ‘One Team’
Your People Focused Service
Because we have done a lot of
consultation, we are clear that you
expect to be listened to, understood,
informed, protected and above all safe.
With this in mind we are moving away
from being a service that sometimes
focuses on its own needs to one that
always strives to fulfil your needs.
Listening to members of the
community
We need to improve each individual’s
experience of the services we deliver
and we are working in a way that
deliberately delivers a positive
experience, that is consistent with both
our values and what you, the
community, wants. We know that our
customers will only feel safer, confident
and satisfied if we provide a service
where an empathetic and personal
approach is taken every time we are
contacted for whatever reason.
Following this research we have
prepared a programme which is very
much citizen focused and which
incorporates:-
❑ Completing the roll out of
neighbourhood policing across the
Force by 2008
❑ Improving the experience of those
who have contact with our service
❑ Effective community engagement,
including further consultation,
marketing, communication and public
involvement
❑ Public understanding and local
accountability of policing
❑ Organisational and cultural changes
to bring about an increasingly
responsive service, where feedback
from frontline staff and the public is
used to provide continuous
improvement
❑ Addressing areas recognised for
service improvement and
disproportionate perceptions of
concern
By listening to your concerns and
understanding your problems we will
focus on taking the action that improves
the quality of your life.
Making Your Roads Safer
Although in Dorset road deaths and serious injuries have
substantially decreased by 15.7% over the last year,
we still recognise this is an area of considerable challenge to
road policing.
Our priority is to reduce
road collisions that
result in death or
serious injury.
While we continue to
deal with a number of
Stopchecks collisions involving
motorcyclists, uninsured
and un-roadworthy vehicles and drink or drug driving, we know
that speeding and dangerous driving consistently feature as a
main area of local concern within the communities of Dorset.
By continuing our work with the Dorset Safety Camera
Partnership and the use of Speed Indicator Devices we will
work proactively to reduce these problems.
The Road Policing Unit leads our efforts to reduce deaths and
injury on our roads and, in 2007/2008, we will continue to focus
on driver behaviour through a combination of enforcement and
special education campaigns including:-
●●● Drink or drug driving
●●● Seat belt offences
●●● Using a mobile phone while driving ●●● Speed offences
●●● Hotspot targeting
●●● Bikesafe initiative
Particular attention will be given to the unlawful, irresponsible and
anti-social use of our roads so that your area will not only become
safer but will feel safer.
Tackling anti-social
Behaviour
One our priorities for 2007/2008, is to tackle anti-social
behaviour because we know that it can cause distress in
your daily lives. Anti-social behaviour covers a range of
issues including:
● vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate attempts to
damage property or vehicles
● substance misuse
● drunken, rowdy and nuisance behaviour
● begging
● hate incidents
● noise nuisance
● animal related problems
● vehicle related nuisance like speeding and reckless
driving
● hoax calls and malicious communication
● prostitution related activity
By setting up Safer Neighbourhood teams in all areas of the
county, this will give you the opportunity to let us and the
community safety services know, through your local point of
contact, which issues cause particular problems in your
area and give you the chance to influence the priorities that
you want actioned first.
By working with communities and partners, we will be able
to intervene and solve those problems. Additionally we will
provide sustainable solutions to those problems and provide
you with feedback on the results.
7

150 year Celebration Events
Sunday 23 July saw the first of the 150th events
kick off with the Community Open Day held at
HQ Winfrith. Over 10,000 members of the public
poured through the gates on what started as a
cloudy, drizzly day. This did not dampen
the enthusiasm of staff and
volunteers who gave up their
Sunday to ensure everyone had a
good time and support the first
event of a series taking place
throughout the year across the
county.
Opened by Chief Constable,
Martin Baker, the day was action
packed and designed to inform and
entertain the whole family.
State of the art technology and transport drew
the crowds in, but the parade of vintage police
cars also proved popular. While people enjoyed
stepping back into the past, the recent police
cars featuring the latest touch screen technology
and the motorbikes were equally popular with
the crowds. Top of the transport popularity
stakes went to Oscar 99, the Dorset Police
helicopter, which was joined by the Coastguard
helicopter. There was not a moment in the day
when they were not packed with young potential
flyers.
The Dorset Police Dog Section provided a great
display, which was heavily supported, but the
chance to cuddle a puppy was the highlight of
the day for many youngsters. Media star, Echo,
the young German Shepherd pup, toured
around to meet his many adoring fans, but found
the whole thing exhausting and was found
several times during the day indulging in a quick
snooze in a shady spot.
Mr Baker hosted a birthday party for members of
the public who had a birthday or anniversary on
23 July. Guests of all ages gathered in the
decorated
marquee for
drinks and cakes,
wearing party
hats and enjoying
table toys. The
oldest and
youngest birthday
celebrators
helped cut the
cake, marking
150 years of the
Dorset Police and
175 years of the
Police
Constabulary.
Public Support Unit
Rides recruit in the for police the day, cars were so over-subscribed
within Ellen the Hubbard, first hour, aged that 3additional rides had to
be set up. In the main arena there were displays
from the Police Support Unit with children having
great fun dressing up in police riot gear. Officers
threw wet sponges at the children as
they charged towards them with
their riot shields. It was hard to
determine who got the wettest,
the children or the officers, but
it provided great entertainment
for the watching crowds.
Live bands played throughout
the day appealing to all tastes.
Pop band Rapport and swing band
Swing Unlimited were joined by the
Dorchester Carnival Band and The
Dorset Police Band.
Visitors were treated to magic shows,
trampolines, face painting and a bouncy castle
and everyone had the chance to meet favourite
Enid Blyton characters Noddy, Sly and PC Plod.
Amateur sleuths followed a crime trail with the
Forensic Investigation Unit and took the
opportunity to have their fingerprints taken.
One of the most spectacular events of the
day was the Chinese Dragon dancing. Dorset
Police staff had little time to rehearse but on
the day produced an impressive dance in
the central arena. The great honour of the
ceremony of opening the eyes of the dragon,
went to Mr Baker.
Chinese Dragon Dancing
Huw Thomas, from the Dorset Police Air Support Unit shows Thomas and Daniel
Easterbrook around the Force helicopter
Charlotte Clarke-Fuidge, aged 9, with her brother Jacob, aged 7, meet Echo the police puppy
Celebration in Song
Saturday 21 October saw an audience
gathering at the Lighthouse Theatre in Poole
for an evening of music and song. Three
choirs, totalling 150 people, performed
together on stage representing the Police
Male Voice Choirs of Dorset, Hereford and
Gloucestershire. Never was One team - One
vision more ably demonstrated. Guest Solo
Pianist Frances Dodd played pieces by
Grieg, Granados and Albeniz and the choir
was directed and accompanied through a
selection of pieces including Llanfair,
Nessun Dorma, She, Morte Criste, ending
with a rousing version of When the Saints go
Marching in. Nearly £400 was raised for the
Streetwise Charity and Cystic Fibrosis from
donations for the programmes. Chief
Constable, Martin Baker, admitted that
despite having served in all three areas
represented by the choirs, he had not had
the talent to sing in any of the choirs but he
praised all three and their Musical Directors
for their hard work in producing such a great
evening of entertainment.
Action from the Public Support Unit in the main arena
8
Open
Day 2008
Plans are in hand for
the next Community
Open Day, which will
take place in the
summer of 2008,
so keep an eye out
in the press for the
announcement of
the date.
Thanksgiving at Sherborne
Abbey
A unique Service of Thanksgiving was held at the magnificent
Sherborne Abbey on Sunday 15 October. Members of the public
and invited guests turned up to hear the address by The Rt Revd
Tim Thornton, Bishop of Sherborne and a blessing from Cannon
Eric Woods, Vicar of Sherborne. Celebrating 150 years of policing
in Dorset, music was provided by The Dorset Police Band and
Sherborne School Choir. The Chief Constable also addressed the
service, talking about how far the force has come during the 150
years since its conception. He also honoured all those who had
given their lives during their service with Dorset Police.
Assistant Chief Constable, Adrian Whiting, accompanied by his
young son Christian and both dressed in vintage uniforms,
presented a brief history of the 150 years of the Force.

Bringing Information to the Community
Emergency Calls Answered
Quicker than Ever!
Operators in the Control Room have excelled themselves
in the past few months. Over 90% of 999 calls are
now answered within 10 seconds. Answering your calls
faster means that we are able to react quickly to and
deal with emergency situations that may arise anywhere
in the county.
You can help us improve our emergency call response
even further by ensuring you only dial 999 in an
emergency. This number saves lives so it is vital
it is only used for the proper purpose. People who ring for
anything other than an emergency are ultimately putting
lives at risk.
If you do have a general enquiry or a non-emergency
issue, please contact the police enquiry centre on 01202
or 01305 22 22 22.
Alternatively, if you have a general query, why not contact
www.askthe.police.uk . This website has answers to a
range of questions and is likely to be very helpful in giving
you the information you require.
150th Anniversary Vehicle
still on the road
Designed during the 150th anniversary year to allow staff to
engage with communities and raise awareness of policing
issues, the 150th vehicle is still on the road reaching into all
areas of the county. Providing a static display at locations
varying from schools to town squares as well as appearances
at local events, the vehicle offers the opportunity for the
public to talk to police officers and PCSOs about their
concerns and receive valuable information on protecting their
homes and posessions as well as safety advice. Keep your
eye out for the vehicle and take the time to check out the
useful information it contains.
This document is also
available in Polish,
Kurdish and Cantonese.
If you would like to
receive a copy in one of these languages, or you
would like to receive a copy on audio cassette, then
please telephone 01202 or 01305 22 3640 or email
safer-dorset@dorset.pnn.police.uk
Customer Service -
Our Commitment to You
Contacting Dorset Police
USING THE RIGHT NUMBERS FOR THE
RIGHT SITUATION
999
If life is in danger or a crime is in progress,
then always dial 999
22 22 22
For general enquiries, responding to
witness or information appeals or to
report a non-urgent crime, then call 01202
or 01305 22 22 22.
Typetalk
For the Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Speech
Impaired, use typetalk 18000 for both urgent
and non-urgent calls
TEXT
For the Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Speech
Impaired, you can send a text to our nonurgent
number which is 07766 425 243.
You can also send a text to our ‘urgent’
number, which is 07766 425 242 (this text
will be treated as an emergency as soon as
it reaches Dorset Police)
If you would like further information on
Police Liaison Officers for the Deaf (PLOD),
then email PLOD@dorset.pnn.police.uk
www.dorset.police.uk
To report a non-urgent crime or look at the
latest information concerning policing in your
area, including members of your nearest
Safer Neighbourhood Team, the visit our
website at www.dorset.police.uk
enquiries@dorset.pnn.police.uk
Non-urgent enquiries can be emailed to us
at enquiries@dorset.pnn.police.uk and a
response will be sent back to you within
24 hours
Police Stations
Visit your local police station
Other numbers to call:
Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111
Call the free, anonymous Crimestoppers line
if you have information about a crime
Victim Support line: 0845 30 30 900
For free and confidential support
National Domestic Violence helpline:
0800 2000 247
Whenever you need to contact Dorset Police, you can be
assured that we will aim to provide the highest quality of
service. During 2006, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
Constabulary assessed the Force as one of only two forces
in the country to be ‘Excellent and Stable’ in the area of
Citizen Focus for Customer Service and Accessibility, when
compared with other forces.
We are committed to continually
improving our service to you and
through listening to your views, we
know that it is extremely important
that you are Listened to,
Understood, Informed, Protected
and, most importantly, Safe -
whatever the reason for your call.
We have therefore set a number of
standards to help ensure that when
you contact us, the service we
provide is of the highest quality and
meets your individual need.
Our aim is:
■ To make it easy for you to
contact us During the last year,
our switchboard received half a
million general calls, 94% of which
were answered within 30 seconds.
We also received approximately
100,000 999 calls, 91% of which
were answered within 10 seconds.
Plans are now in place to help us
deal with your future enquiries
even quicker.
■ To provide a professional and high quality service
Our staff aim to provide a thorough and professional
service, whatever your reason is for contacting us.
■ To deal with your needs effectively We aim to ensure
that those who receive our service are Listened to,
Understood, Informed, Protected and Safe.
■ To keep you informed By ensuring that you are
provided with the details necessary should you wish to
contact us, and that you are kept up-to-date with the
progress of your enquiry.
■ To listen to your views By listening to what you have
to say, we aim to continually improve the service that
we provide
For victims of crime, we will provide additional support and
always endeavour to ensure that victims are:
■ referred to Victim Support or provided with information
about the types of support available
■ kept informed of the progress of the case
■ updated on developments such as an arrest or charge
■ made aware of the date of court hearings and whether
they are required as a witness
■ informed of the outcome of the case.
Dorset Police would welcome any views you may have that
might assist us to improve our service even further. You can
write to Quality and Development, Dorset Police
Headquarters, Winfrith, DT2 8DZ or alternatively email us at
consultation@dorset.pnn.police.uk
Tell Us What You Think of Safer Dorset
So that you will find Safer Dorset an
interesting read, we are always looking
at ways to improve the publication.
If you have any comments concerning
the design or content of this publication,
please send them to:
The Editor,
Safer Dorset,
Media and Communication Department,
Force HQ, Winfrith, Dorchester DT2 8DZ
9

Dorset Home Watch
Next year Dorset Home Watch will celebrate twenty-five years
of success helping Dorset Police in the fight against crime. But
whilst Home Watch is probably one of the most effective crime
prevention initiatives ever thought of, it’s not just about reducing
burglary figures, - it’s about creating communities who care, and
where everyone feels safe. Home Watch helps foster a new
community spirit and a belief in the community’s ability to tackle
its problems. The formation of Safer Neighbourhood Teams will
bring a new dimension, which will enhance all the benefits of
belonging to an active Home Watch group.
Dorset Home Watch has in excess of 60,000 members, that’s
60,000 extra pairs of eyes and ears, helping Dorset Police to
make Dorset Safer and to make Dorset Feel Safer. The
evidence is there for all to see, just look at these success
stories:
●●● In Alderholt, an initiative run by the local watch group
helped the police in identifying vandals who caused
damage to the village hall; they were subsequently
interviewed and dealt with appropriately.
●●● In Walditch a watch member rang Bridport Police Station
with information about a suspicious vehicle seen in the
Our Approach to Equality
Dorset Police is committed to addressing all equality issues.
As detailed in the last Safer Dorset, we produced our Race
Equality Scheme in response to the requirements of the Race
Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.
We are nearing the end of our Year 2 Action Plan, which details
how we are going to improve access to services, address any
employment or training issues and engage with Black and
Ethnic Minority people residing within the county. We will be
publishing our annual report in the summer and this will be
available from our website.
In December 2006 we published our Disability Equality Scheme
in response to the requirements of the Disability Discrimination
Act 2005. Our vision for the Disability Equality Scheme is a
Dorset that not only is safer but feels safer.
The Scheme contains a 3-year action plan outlining how we
intend to promote disability equality throughout the Dorset area
by:
■ Promoting equality of opportunity between disabled persons
and other persons
■ Eliminating discrimination that is unlawful under the Act
■ Eliminating harassment of disabled people that is related to
their disabilities
■ Promoting positive attitudes towards disabled people
area. Research by police revealed that the
occupant had previously been involved in jobbing
builder type offences, mainly involving poor
workmanship. A ringmaster message went out
and four more reports were received. Police located the
car and driver within an hour and the man was spoken to.
He left the area swiftly and without the opportunity to
commit offences.
●●● Two new Watch Schemes have been introduced by the
Safer Neighbourhood Teams to the Westbourne area
covering over 2,500 households. The schemes enable
residents to share important information about activity in
their area and play a key role in crime reduction. Recently
they have received sponsorship from a local company to
assist them in producing their quarterly newsletters.
●●● Last year Home Watch groups from Lilliput, Parkstone
and Poole worked together with the Police and Consumer
Protection to set up No Doorstep Selling Zones to tackle
the large numbers of cold callers working the area. The
scheme has been very successful and other groups are
working with Consumer Protection to get zones
implemented in their area.
As residents in Dorset we are very privileged, we live in one of
the most beautiful counties in the country, and also one of the
safest, and you could help to make it even safer by joining your
local Home Watch group, or if there isn’t already a group
already established why not get together with your neighbours
and form one. Your local Watch Co-ordinators can be contacted
on the following numbers and will give you all the help you
need.
Western: 01305 226570
Eastern: 01202 226214
Bournemouth: 01202 222510
Poole: 01202 227840
And if you’re still not convinced, remember, being an active
member of your local Home Watch group could save you
money on your household insurance.
■ Encouraging participation by disabled people in public life
■ Taking steps to take account of disabled people’s disabilities,
even where that involves treating disabled people more
favourably than other people.
We are now in the process of developing our Gender Equality
Scheme, which under the requirements of the Equality Act 2006
must be published by 30 April. This Scheme will outline how we
intend to promote gender equality throughout the Dorset area
by:
■ Eliminating unlawful discrimination and harassment
■ Promoting equality of opportunity between men and women.
We have also established Independent Advisory Groups to
provide challenging advice to Dorset Police on equality issues.
We are committed to making Dorset feel safe and your views
are instrumental in shaping how we do this.
The first Dorset Police lAG was started in 2004. We currently
have three lAGs. They are:
■ Bournemouth/Poole lAG (B/PIAG)
■ Critical Incident lAG (CIIAG)
■ Independent Diversity Advisory Panel (IDAP)
If you would like further information contact the Force
Independent Advice Co-ordinator in the Partnership and
Diversity Development Team at our force headquarters.
Dorset Criminal
Justice System:
Working together for the people of Dorset
The Dorset Criminal Justice System is made
up of all the criminal justice agencies in
Dorset. The Dorset Criminal Justice Board
brings together the Chief Officers of these
agencies with the aim to ensure that Dorset’s
criminal justice agencies work together to
deliver joined-up, effective and efficient justice
to the people of Dorset from the moment a
crime is reported through to the prosecution,
punishment and rehabilitation of the offender.
The Board is committed to raising the public’s
confidence by bringing more offences to justice, ensuring that
victims and witnesses of crime receive the care and support they
need and by protecting the people of Dorset.
Rod Brummitt, Chair of the Dorset Criminal Justice Board, said:
“All of the agencies in Dorset’s Criminal Justice System are
committed to delivering effective justice for the people of Dorset.
We aim to provide a high level of care and service to victims and
witnesses of crime, whilst reducing offending, protecting the public
and rehabilitating offenders.”
Did you know
●●● 16,873 offences were
brought to justice in
Dorset throughout 2006,
that’s 11% above our
national target, and since the Dorset Criminal Justice Board
was formed in 2003 overall recorded crime in Dorset has
fallen by 12.5%.
●●● Dorset Police and the Crown
Prosecution Service have secured
29 confiscation orders from April 2006
to January 2007 which will enable
£1.95 million worth of criminal assets to
be seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
●●● Since March 2006 over £42,000 has
been spent on improving witness
facilities in Dorset’s courts.
●●● Dorset’s Community Service Unit
supervises approximately 350 offenders a
week and members of the public are able
to suggest unpaid work projects for the offenders to do.
●●● Her Majesty’s Prison Service in Dorset
has a unique award-winning project
that uses a mentoring system to help
inmates through the process of release
back into the community, which helps
to reduce reoffending rates.
●●● The Bournemouth and Poole Youth
Offending Team, in partnership with
education, work closely with staff and
pupils in schools to reduce bullying and truancy.
●●● The Dorset Youth Offending Team run
a project where young offenders
restore old and broken bicycles, this
ensures they are participating in a community reparation
scheme as well as learning basic maintenance and safety
skills. In the past year 74 restored bicycles from this project
have been sent to the Gambia for African children to use to
get to and from school.
For more details about the Dorset Criminal Justice System please
contact the support team on 01202 498821, email
lcjb@dorset.pnn.police.uk or visit www.lcjb.cjsonline.gov.uk/Dorset
Switch Off Before You Drive Off
Changes to the mobile phone legislation
in February mean that if you are caught
using a hand-held mobile phone while
driving you could be faced with a £60
fine and 3 penalty points on your
licence.
We all know that trying to do two things
at once is extremely difficult and driving
is a skill that requires full concentration.
Talking on the phone or sending text
messages must always wait until you
are able to pull over safely.
Please don’t put yourself or other roadusers
at risk - help us to make the roads
safer by switching off before driving off.
Stay Alive, Don’t Drink and Drive
The annual Christmas drink drive campaign took place as usual throughout December. The public were
urged to call Dorset Police with any information they had on drivers who may be under the influence of
alcohol or drugs - and the public response alone brought 20 arrests. Another 178 arrests were made
through police stop-checks.
We are constantly working hard to make the roads of Dorset Safer and therefore urge the public to pick
up the phone and call us on 01202 / 01305 22 22 22 if you know of someone who is putting their life,
and the lives of other road users, at risk at any time of the year.
Remember, Stay Alive, Don’t Drink and Drive!
10

North Dorset
Everybody needs good neighbours
Bourton
Gillingham
Gillingham and Shaftesbury Police have launched
a simple but effective bogus caller initiative which
is designed to help vulnerable older residents.
It involves very little time but can be an important
safeguard to our neighbours. Dorset Police has
produced an A4 size orange card that the older
resident completes with a trusted neighbour.
Should the resident receive a visitor who they do
not know they give the card to the caller. The
card then advises the visitor to go to the
neighbour’s address. The neighbour then verifies
that the caller is genuine and attends the mature
resident’s address to confirm.
Inspector Phil Cheverton, North Dorset Section
Commander, said: “Domestic burglaries are low,
however among them is a small but important
number of domestic burglaries affecting senior
members of our communities. They usually
consist of two or more offenders during daylight
hours claiming to be from one of the utility
companies - one talks while the other ransacks
the home. These types of crimes are despicable
and cause long-term damage to the victims and
impact on their daily lives both mentally and
physically.”
Inspector Cheverton goes on to say: “All it takes
is a small amount of time to initially complete the
card and to work with your neighbours to help
provide a safer supportive neighbourhood.”
East
Stour
Child
Okeford
Winterborne
Stickland
Milton
Abbas
Shaftesbury
Fontmell
Magna
Iwerne
Minster
Winterborne
Whitechurch
Stourpaine
Tarrant
Gunville
NORTH DORSET
BLANDFORD
Tarrant
Keyneston
Blandford
Camp
Sturminster
Marshall
Sixpenny
Handley
Sat Nabbed!
During Blandford’s busy late night Christmas shopping period,
Jean Wells, Blandford’s Town Crier shouted about crime prevention,
in a bid to stop people leaving valuable items unattended in their
vehicles - particularly satellite navigation systems.
Jean was ably assisted by the Eastern Division Community Support
Vehicle, staffed by Angie Cox (left) and Ben King, a Dorset Police
Volunteer, and Blandford’s Safer Neighbourhood Team, led by
PC Simon Evans (right).
Award for
Steam Fair partnership
A team made up of Dorset Police, North Dorset District Council and
Dorset County Council was rewarded with the annual Dorset Police
‘Diversity in Action’ award for its work during the Great Dorset Steam Fair
in August 2005.
Last year dwelling burglary reduced significantly in and around Blandford
(down 47 per cent) but there was a small increase in the Shaftesbury and
Gillingham areas. All of the North Dorset section enjoyed significant reductions in
vehicle crime and in some areas of the section theft from vehicles was nearly
halved. Overall crime levels were down about seven per cent across the section
and this section still has one of the highest detection rates in Dorset, detecting
nearly a third of all crime committed.
Get in touch:
The award - which was presented for the first time in 2006 - was in
recognition of Operation Elder, the name given to the policing
arrangements for directing gypsy travellers who set up unauthorised sites
in and around the Blandford area before and during the Great Dorset
Steam Fair.
Tree in memory of PC Ted Ware
In loving memory: Esme Ware, widow of former Blandford police sergeant Ted Ware, plants
a cherry tree in the grounds of Blandford police station in memory of her late husband.
A blossoming cherry tree was planted as a permanent memorial to one of Blandford’s best-loved
police officers, Ted Ware.
Officers who worked with Mr Ware planted the tree in the grounds of Blandford Police station in
December. He died in March last year after a career of 40 years with Dorset Police, the majority of
which was served in Blandford.
The Operation Elder team was a partnership, which saw the local
authorities providing a temporary alternative site for travellers before and
during the event (which attracts 250,000 people over five days and is the
largest of its kind in Europe). Provision of the temporary site enabled the
police to use powers to move more than 30 caravans from an
unauthorised encampment in Pimperne.
A woman from Gillingham, viciously
attacked by her partner urged victims of
domestic violence to speak out.
More women in Dorset are taking a
positive stand against their abusive
partners, demonstrated by a massive
rise in domestic violence crimes
reported to police.
Jason Payne was jailed for 20 months at
Dorchester Crown Court in February for
inflicting grievous bodily harm to his
partner.
The 33-year-old sustained serious
mouth, arm and head injuries, needing
surgery to have two metal plates
inserted into both sides of her fractured
jaw.
Telling of her ordeal, she said that
victims should not suffer in silence.
Inspector Phil Cheverton
Call 01202 22 22 22* and ask
for:
Section Commander for North Dorset
(Blandford, Shaftesbury and Gillingham):
Inspector Phil Cheverton (pictured)
Blandford Neighbourhood Station Sergeant:
Sgt Andy Crook
Shaftesbury Neighbourhood Station
Sergeant: Sgt Ken Morgan
Gillingham Neighbourhood Station
Sergeant: Sgt Trevor Cross
Blandford Police Station
Salisbury Road, Blandford
Open 0800 - 1800 Monday - Sunday
blandford@dorset.pnn.police.uk
Gillingham Police Station
1 School Road, Gillingham
Open 0900 - 1700 Monday - Friday
and 0900 - 1300 Saturday
Gillingham@dorset.pnn.police.uk
Shaftesbury Police Station
Granville Gardens, Shaftesbury
Open 0900 - 1700 Monday - Friday
and 0900 - 1300 Saturday
shaftesbury@dorset.pnn.police.uk
*Only call 999 if a crime is in progress or
lives are in danger.
11

Purbeck
Affpuddle
Bere Regis
East
Morden
Lytchett
Matravers
On the buses
Moreton
Bovington
A scheme to combat bad behaviour on school
buses in Purbeck has proved such a success
Sandford
it was shortlisted for a national Community
Care Award.
Wool
WAREHAM
Winfrith
The School Bus Forum was developed by
Newburgh PURBECK SECTION
Studland
Jennie Sykes, Police Community Support Officer
Creech Corfe
East
West
Castle
Llulworth
and Safe Schools Community Officer for
Llulworth
Purbeck with help from Purbeck police officers,
Kimmeridge
Swanage
Worth
after a number of serious anti-social behaviour
Matravers
issues on school buses meant that bus drivers
and children were reluctant to use the buses.
Jennie started by looking at police reports,
contacting the local school and also the main
Respect Award for bus service provider to ask for details of
incidents that had been reported to them.
Taking a Stand at
She said: “This led to some interesting
reading and I called a meeting with the schools,
Studland
the bus company, Purbeck District and Dorset
The Studland County Councils. Eventually all the agencies
Beach Users agreed that we share responsibility for solving
Action Group this problem. This meeting has developed now
(SBUAG)
into the School Bus Forum and we have since
has won a
involved parent, teachers representatives,
Government Award in recognition of the students and bus drivers.”
hard work and commitment put into
tackling anti-social behaviour and
making Studland a better place to live Vehicle crime figures tumble
and rest.
A wide range of groups use Studland
beach for many different reasons, which
has led to disagreement in the past.
However following the formation of the
Studland Beach Users Action Group in
2004, agencies such as the Police,
Purbeck District Council, Dorset County
Council, Studland Parish Council, The
National Trust, English Nature, Swanage
Coastguard and Dorset Fire and Rescue
Service; beach user groups; local
businesses and resident groups have
worked together to identify the problems
facing the area and to identify solutions
to make Studland even safer. And now
the SBUAG has been given a Respect
award for Taking a Stand. This award is
Sergeant Jon Bleasdale reminds motorists in Purbeck to lock their cars
a national award scheme run jointly by
the Home Office and Crime Concern and
its recipients receive £1,000 to be
reinvested into the community.
The SBUAG has worked proactively to
tackle the inappropriate behaviour of a
minority of visitors to the beach as well
as other community safety issues in the
In 2006 Purbeck police reported a 41 per cent
decrease in car crime since 2005, thanks to
public awareness and high visibility policing.
Due to their success, Purbeck Police are
repeating their winning vehicle crime campaign
again this year starting in Easter and ending in
October, to reduce the number of victims.
surrounding area. Some people have
Sergeant Des Connor said “Since the team here
wrongly associated naturism with
in Purbeck has targeted vehicle crime, it has
sexual misconduct and the group has
been falling year on year and the reduction this
●
attempted to break down barriers and
year is the biggest yet. We use a number of
challenge the negative perception that
strategies to alert the public and criminals,
some people have of naturism. Action
including Police Community Support Officer
has been taken to raise awareness of
(PCSO) patrols, roadside signs, a poster
what is unacceptable behaviour and to
campaign, leaflets in garages, tri signs on
promote proper use of this outstanding
municipal car parks and the reverse of car park
area through a number of initiatives,
●
tickets in local car parks as a way of reminding
including high visibility police patrols,
the public.”
targeted vehicle crime campaigns and
action to prevent overnight camping
on Ferry Road.
Sergeant Connor continued with an appeal for
the public to remove valuables from their cars:
“Half of the victims in the past were women who
In 2005/2006 overall crime increased in Purbeck with
significant increases in criminal damage and theft offences.
Last year (2006/07) saw significant progress made in reversing
this trend. There were 30 per cent fewer dwelling burglaries
and an even bigger reduction in theft from cars (down 36 per
cent). Overall last year, crime levels in Purbeck reduced by 12
per cent, including a 15 per cent reduction in criminal damage
offences.
Jennie got so involved that on several occasions
she went on the buses and chatted to the
children to see what they thought would help this
situation, if they had any ideas that they would
like to see happen and change for the better.
Jennie said: “The forum was established and it
went from strength to strength. The secret of the
forum was to let the members decide and
discuss the best way forward and then try out
initiatives and monitor them.”
left their handbags in their cars to go for a walk.
I met one victim who, when questioned, told me
she had left her valuables in her car
approximately five feet from a sign reminding
her not to do so!”
●
Mark Tallis, Swanage, started several
fires to the heathland causing
damage to protected wildlife habitats,
he was subsequently convicted of
arson and sentenced to one year
imprisonment in September 2006.
George Harvey, from Swanage, was
released from prison on licence after
serving part of his sentence for
Grievous Bodily Harm. He was later
arrested for breaching his licence and
recalled to prison, he was then
released on licence again but was rearrested
in February for breaching his
licence again and was back in prison
when Safer Dorset went to press.
Darren Ginbey, Ferndown, committed
several till snatches at Post Offices
and shops across Hampshire and
Dorset (including Wareham). He has
been convicted and was sentenced
to 20 months imprisonment in August
2006.
A year on, the forum’s hard work really paid off
and the behaviour improved dramatically, with
both drivers and passengers much happier with
the journeys. Buses have now had CCTV
installed, identity cards have been created for
both children and drivers and in some cases
splitting groups up has had a huge impact.
Pictured above is Jason Gover, Chairman of
Bus Committee of the Purbeck School
Parliament, PC Dick Clapp, Swanage
Community Beat Officer, Karen Jaggs,
Community Safety Officer, Purbeck District
Council, Georgina Heane, Parent Governor
for The Purbeck School, Terry Spracklen,
Principal Education Transport Co-ordinator,
Dorset County Council, Jennie Sykes, Safe
Schools and Communities Officer, Dorset
Police, Stuart Gamage, Wilts and Dorset Bus
Company, Jess Clark, Prime Minister for the
Purbeck School Parliament, Murray Goosen,
Wilts and Dorset Bus Company, Dawn Wilks,
Assistant Head Teacher, The Purbeck School
Get in touch:
Inspector Ashley Adams
Call 01202 22 22 22* and
ask for:
Section Commander for Purbeck (Swanage
and Wareham): Inspector Ashley Adams
(pictured);
Wareham Neighbourhood Station Sergeant:
Sergeant Jon Bleasdale
Swanage Neighbourhood Station Sergeant:
Sergeant Jane Mooney
Swanage Police Station
Argyle Road, Swanage
Open 0900 - 1700 Monday - Friday
and 0900 - 1300 Saturday
Swanage@dorset.pnn.police.uk
Wareham Police Station
Worgret Road, Wareham
Open 0800 - 1800 Monday - Sunday
wareham@dorset.pnn.police.uk
*Only call 999 if a crime is in progress or
lives are in danger.
12

CID/CJD
Hitting the Criminals Where it Hurts
The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) is
designed to take the profit out of crime.
It provides wide-ranging powers to be able
to seize any proceeds of crime from
convicted criminals.
The main motivation for criminal activity is
profit. Criminals traffic in drugs, illegal
immigrants, prostitution and contraband
goods and are prepared to commit crimes
ranging from simple theft to murder in order
to make money.
In Dorset we have an Economic Crime Unit,
who have been working very hard over the
past few years to put measures in place to
ensure that Dorset Police maximises its
powers under the Act.
In the past year alone, we have seized
over £3.5 million from criminals - including
£1.8 million in cash.
The money seized in Dorset goes to central
government but, under the Asset Recovery
Operation Dismantle Update
Operation Dismantle was established in April
2005 to tackle the supply of Class A drugs
across the County.
It set out to identify and tackle the most violent
drug dealing offenders within the County and
this ethos remains as relevant today as it was
when Dismantle began.
To ensure that we are able to identify and tackle
individuals who are known for both violence and
Incentivisation Scheme, Dorset Police
receives back a proportion of the cash taken
from criminals. This money is then
reinvested in fighting crime. It is also used to
fund other policing activity, such as the
recent end-of-year performance adverts you
may have seen or heard in your local media.
As Detective Inspector Sue Wynn, head of
the Economic Crime Unit explains,
“Criminals have been living off the
proceeds of their crimes for too long and
we can now better protect youngsters from
the negative role model this creates by
seizing assets and removing mislaid
notions of ‘gangster glamour’.”
The Economic Crime Unit are keen to know
about anyone suspected to be living off the
proceeds of crime and if you have any
information, please call 01202 or 01305 22 22
22 and ask for the Money Laundering Unit.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers
on 0800 555 111 to report information relating
to people who make a profit from crime.
Class A drug offences, drug analysts are in
place. They collate information and evidence
and pass this to a dedicated team. Decisions
are then made on the best action to take.
Dorset Police are committed to tackling drug
dealing across the County and our core role
within the drugs arena is one of enforcement.
We strive to tackle not only drug dealing
but other crime which may be linked and
will continue to target those involved in the
supply of drugs for their
criminal behaviour.
As a result of the excellent
work carried out, Operation
Dismantle has contributed to
the seizure of Proceeds of
Crime Assets, amounting to
£1,840,482 for 2006/07.
Focus on...Dorset Police Special Branch
Dorset Police Special Branch is one specialist
department within the wider Criminal Investigation
Department (CID). It is based around the county
with offices at the force headquarters in Winfrith,
Bournemouth, Bournemouth International Airport
and Poole Port.
Special Branch in Dorset has developed, like
others around the country, from a historical
standpoint of countering purely Irish Terrorism -
to what we see and expect today to counter the
threat from international, Irish and domestic
terrorism and extremism.
Our work is conducted in support of the
government approach to counter-terrorism,
focusing on four key factors:
Detective Sergeant Dave Webster and
recently retired Detective Constable Adrian
Hugill were awarded with a Chief
Constable’s Commendation at a recent
Dorset Police Awards Ceremony.
Dave and Adrian had to investigate the
extremely difficult case of a two-year old boy
being physically abused by his mum’s
boyfriend.
The case was complicated and lengthy, the
boy was admitted to Poole hospital with life
threatening injuries when we first became
involved and soon it was discovered that he
also had a number of historical injuries.
The boy’s mother and boyfriend continually
denied causing any harm to the boy. Experts
●●● The prevention of terrorism
●●● The pursuit of terrorists
●●● The protection of the UK from terrorists
●●● Preparedness with the appropriate
resources and people to respond to any
terrorist incident
Dorset remains one of the safest areas to live
but it is important to ensure it remains this way.
Responsibilities of Special Branch therefore
include:
●●● Gathering and analysing information
●●● Initiating and developing policing
operations
●●● Providing, initiating and maintaining
counter terrorism security
Special Branch also work with others to ensure
the safety of the high profile VIPs that Dorset
attracts, for example Prince Charles who visited
in 2006.
Special Branch officers and staff are trained to
the highest level and form an integral part of
policing in Dorset.
Excellent Work by Officers in the
Criminal Investigation Department
were called in and Dave and Adrian showed
extreme professionalism and resilience to
ensure thorough and accurate evidence
could be presented at the trial. The pair
worked tirelessly and during the investigation
over 100 statements were taken and over
1000 documents collated.
Following a two-week trial, the boyfriend was
convicted of wounding and cruelty against
the boy and received a nine year prison
sentence. The mother pleased guilty to
cruelty and was given a 39 week suspended
prison sentence.
The two year old boy was expected to die
but happily, has now made an almost full
recovery from his injuries and is living locally
with a foster family.
Conditional Cautions -
Now in a Police Station near You!
Fingerprints and DNA sample are taken from an offender in custody
Criminal Justice Division
As the Criminal Justice Division (CJD), of Dorset Police, we are responsible for all the activities
that take place once an offender is detained and brought into custody - from the moment that
person is booked in, through to the final resulting of a case dealt with at court and the archiving
of related case papers.
The processes involved in bringing an offender to justice can seem complicated, but at all times
our focus is on providing the very best service to victims and witnesses.
The overall aim of our work is to serve communities fairly and bring more offences to justice.
Dorset Criminal Justice Division works in support of the Force’s corporate plan. With this in
mind, we aim to:
■ Provide consistent high standards of service to victims and witnesses;
■ Bring more offences to justice;
■ Raise public and professional confidence in our service delivery.
Conditional Cautions have arrived in Dorset this
year. A Conditional Caution is a new type of
caution that can be issued to adult offenders
who admit their guilt. It is given to offenders who
have committed a criminal act, but one that
would not result in going to prison.
It is a type of caution with enforceable conditions
attached to it. This means that the offender will
receive a caution provided that they comply with
conditions that are relevant to the offence they
have committed. In every case the victim of the
crime is consulted, and their views are always
taken into account.
The Crown Prosecution Service decide on
appropriate conditions. If these are successfully
met within an agreed time limit the caution is
completed. If not, the offender will be prosecuted
for the original offence. Their failure to comply
with the conditions can also be mentioned in
court, and then taken into account when
sentencing.
Conditional Cautions do not replace the simple
adult caution, which we will continue to use in
Dorset. Nor would they be used in cases where
it would be more appropriate to charge the
offender and send them to court.
They are a positive initiative to help us to deliver
swift justice for victims of crime, putting wrongs
right without the involvement of the courts. They
have proved extremely popular with victims of
crime in the trial areas, and with police officers.
For example, earlier this year a band playing in
Boscombe had an argument, during which one
of the band members deliberately damaged the
car of another band member. The offender was
arrested, and dealt with by being given a
conditional caution. His conditions were to pay
compensation to the victim to repair the car -
and also to write a formal letter apologising for
his actions.
Johannes Oosthuizen, the patrol sergeant who
dealt with above case, said “This is an excellent
example of how a conditional caution can work
best for the offender and the victim. A first class
result!”
13

CJD/Operations
Operations Division
The Operations division of Dorset Police serves all
communities within Dorset. We are a diverse division, with
over 500 members of staff providing excellent policing and
policing support throughout the county.
What do we do?
Our division carries out a whole range of specialist
policing. Here are just a few examples of the areas we are
responsible for:
●●● Air Operations, through the use of Oscar 99, the
force helicopter which can reach the furthest ends
of the county in just 12 minutes
●●● The Marine Section, working in partnership to police
in harbours and along the coast
●●● Planning for events, such as the Labour Party
Conference later this year in Bournemouth and the
Games 2012, for which the sailing events are taking
place in Weymouth and Portland
●●● Road policing and road safety initiatives to make
our roads safer for drivers and pedestrians
●●● The force control room and police enquiry centre,
which answer all the calls that come into Dorset
Police. On average between 800 and 900 calls are
received daily
●●● Armed response
It’s been another busy year for the Operations division,
with some fantastic work carried out across the county
and, as policing in your neighbourhoods continues to
improve, we will be very much involved. Our priorities
to help our Safer Neighbourhood Teams include the
provision of:
●●● Reassurance
●●● Enforcement
●●● Specific targeted policing
Education for All
Dorset Police is seeing exciting developments in its commitment
to provide education for road users in Dorset. A number of
different schemes are in operation to target drivers most at risk of
collisions and help them improve their driving skills and make the
roads safer for everyone.
The Dying to Drive initiative is about to be concluded for this
academic year following another successful year, reaching over
2000 students across Dorset. The project includes an interactive
presentation that visits schools across the county, with the aim of
educating young drivers under the age of 25 who are the highest
risk group for being involved in road collisions. Representatives
from the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership, Dorset Police and
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service give information and interesting
advice about how to avoid the dangers on the roads. Hard hitting
DVDs, produced by the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership, have
added to the impact of the presentation and are now also used in
the Dorset Police Driver Awareness Scheme.
A BikeSafe course in action
BikeSafe is a nationwide initiative where advanced police
motorcyclists work with riders with the aim of lowering the number
of motorcycle casualties. In 2006, 86 motorcyclists were killed or
seriously injured on Dorset’s roads. Addressing this problem, the
BikeSafe Dorset project is an important initiative in making our
roads safer for everyone. For a fee of £60, riders are offered a
three hour course with advanced Dorset Police motorcyclists and
members of the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists where they
14
Tracking Down the
Criminals
The Dorset Police Dog Section has had a terrific year in
support of policing in Dorset. The highly trained handlers
work extremely hard with their assigned dogs and are a
hugely valuable asset to the force.
Officers from the section are paired up with a canine
companion at an early stage and they are able to teach
the dog the skills of searching for people, drugs, money,
firearms and a whole range of other things. Some recent
successes for the Dog section include:
PC Andy Walbridge and his police dog Thor tracked the
scent of a man who had committed a large robbery.
He was eventually found by the pair hiding underneath
an upturned fibreglass pond and charged.
PC Dave Campbell and police dog Guinness had similar
success when a drugs search was carried out in a house.
The pair uncovered a haul of cocaine and heroin with a
minimum street value of £25,000. The suspect was
subsequently arrested at the scene.
Inspector Matt Butler with some of the children at
Julia’s House
Operations Visit to
Julia’s House
Officers made a special visit to Julia’s House Children’s
Hospice in Poole, earlier this year and spent the morning
with the children and their families.
The children took part in lots of fun activities, including
having their fingerprints taken and meeting police dogs
and their handlers. They were also shown police radios in
a communications vehicle and a traffic patrol car.
The children enjoyed the opportunity to try on police
uniform and equipment and were even dressed up in body
armour, shields and helmets to protect themselves from
the wet sponges thrown by their brothers and sisters!
Inspector Matt Butler co-ordinated the visit and said, “It
was great to meet these very special children and give
them an insight into the work of the Dorset Police. We are
grateful to Julia’s House for allowing us to do so.”
are given tips and guidance on safer riding. By sharing
knowledge, skills and experience, police motorcyclists can help
people to become safer and more competent riders. each course
lasts for three hours and compromises a classroom-based
exercise, followed by a two-hour ride, assessment and feedback
to each individual rider.
The Driver Awareness Scheme has been developed to educate
drivers about the dangers of driving at both excessive and
inappropriate speeds and is about to reach its two year
anniversary. It is offered to motorists, who are detected speeding
in Dorset as an alternative to receiving a fixed penalty notice,
provided the offence has met the set criteria. The course is
classroom based and is taught by trained professionals, including
Advanced Driving Instructors and ex-police officers. Feedback has
been overwhelmingly positive since the scheme was launched.
New Technology
Arrives in the Criminal
Justice Division
The Criminal Justice Division is now operating a new
Case Preparation system. It will allow Dorset Police to
electronically capture case information and share it with
other agencies.
It is being introduced to improve the way cases are
processed from custody to court and will streamline the
preparation, submission and presentation of case files.
This will result in less duplication of information, as well as
better offender management and improved victim and
witness care.
Youth Justice Inspector Lou Pope hands over the bikes
to young people at Harbour House
On Your Bike!
The Bournemouth division of Dorset Police, supported by the
Criminal Justice Division, has donated 11 bicycles, in need of
repair, to the young people at Harbour House, Westbourne.
Harbour House is part of HyPed 21C which is the Young People
Service for Bournemouth Churches Housing Association. The
House accommodates young people aged 16 - 18 years old who
require accommodation for a variety of reasons and provides
residents with a safe environment in which to live.
The donation has been made with the aim of giving the young
people a project to work on. They will be given time and
encouragement to make the necessary repairs to the bikes and,
when fixed, they can use them as a means of transport to get
around.
This will be particularly helpful as the young people attend
compulsory training sessions at the weekend and experience
difficulty maintaining attendance because of their lack of transport.
The bikes were handed over to the residents by Youth Justice
Inspector Lou Pope, at Harbour House, who said: “I hope that the
time and effort residents will have put into fixing the bikes will instil
the young people with a sense of achievement and pride.”
Napoli Landing
In January of this year the MCS Napoli - a British owned container
vessel - began breaking up and was run aground off Branscombe,
Devon, some 14 kilometres from the border with Dorset. The
ongoing salvage operation was a huge task for all those involved,
particularly the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, local authorities
and Devon Police.
We were able to assist along the way and provide help and
support when needed. The Road Policing unit played a key role in
transporting cranes to the stricken ship - all the way from Bere
Regis through the busy centre of Weymouth!
The Road Policing Unit assist the delivery of a crane
to the Napoli salvage operation

Eastern
Crime isn’t HALF what it used to be!
In this modern world of 24-hour media, tabloid journalism and
stories of ‘yob culture’ it is easy to believe that crime is on the up
and up - that we have more reason to fear becoming a victim of
crime than ever before.
Eastern Division ran a publicity campaign at the end of 2006 showing how
crime in all areas has decreased dramatically since 1998. The campaign’s
newspaper advertisements were paid for by the Proceeds of Crime.
Perhaps that is true of some areas of the UK but it is certainly
NOT the case in Eastern Division of Dorset Police. In
Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset and Purbeck crime has
fallen dramatically since 1998, the year that Eastern Division in its
current geography was formed and also the year
that the Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnership (CDRP) was created.
Comparing last year’s crime figures with those
recorded in 1998 reveals an unprecedented fall in
levels of property crime.
In 2006 in Eastern Division:
●●● 470 fewer homes were burgled than in 1998
●●● 1,000 fewer cars were broken into; and
●●● 200 fewer cars were stolen.
That’s an overall reduction of 55 per cent on
1998 figures.
So why has burglary and vehicle crime reduced
so dramatically? Detective Chief Inspector Garrick
Smith, Eastern Division’s Crime and Performance
Manager, has some ideas:
Public awareness
People are far more aware of crime prevention
than they were 10 years ago. This has meant that
we are less likely to leave our homes and cars
insecure or to leave valuables in an unattended
vehicle. An important part of crime prevention is
reducing the opportunities for thieves to steal,
and home and car owners are increasingly aware
of this.
Technology
There is little doubt that technological
developments have contributed to the fall in
crime. Home security, for example, has improved
and many new homes are now built with
advanced security systems. Improvements in the
design of replacement windows and doors make
break-ins more difficult - we are recording an
increasing number of incidents where the
‘would-be’ burglar has had to give up after
trying unsuccessfully to force several windows
and doors.
Advances in technology have also had a huge
effect on vehicle crime. Ten years ago engine
immobilisers were only fitted to luxury cars
whereas now they are a standard fitting to most
new cars, making them more difficult to steal. If
they are stolen, many cars now have tracking systems fitted so
that the police can locate them wherever they are in the country.
Entertainment systems are now integrated into car dashboards,
making them almost impossible to steal. Car parks are better
designed and more secure than they were previously and the
widespread use of CCTV has made it increasingly harder for
thieves to operate without being detected.
Cost of ‘luxury’ goods
The retail cost of home electrical goods - TVs and DVD players,
for example - has reduced dramatically in recent years. Many of
the items that burglars used to steal from our homes now have
such little second hand value that they are considered by thieves
as ‘not worth stealing’. Many criminals have decided that, in terms
of financial reward, domestic burglary is no longer worth the risk.
Neighbourhood Watch
The growth of Neighbourhood and Home Watch schemes means
that many communities have become ‘no-go’ areas for burglars.
Once a burglar has been caught as a result of a phone call from a
Neighbourhood Watch they feel more vulnerable in that area and
are not prepared to take the risk of getting caught again.
Tougher sentences
Sentencing policy has also changed, with the introduction of
mandatory sentences for persistent offenders. Two decades ago
the average sentence for a career burglar was 18 months to two
years. Nowadays it is not unusual to see persistent offenders
receiving prison sentences of five years and more.
Improvements in policing
Our intelligence-led approach is about directing our resources
towards catching those criminals who are committing the greatest
volume of crime so that we can maximise the impact of their arrest.
Catching and convicting prolific and persistent offenders is central
to our crime reduction strategy and we are getting better at it all
the time.
We are also making greater use of technology in the fight to
reduce crime. One recent innovation has been the introduction of
‘capture cars’. These are ordinary cars fitted inside with tiny video
cameras that automatically start recording when the car is broken
into. At the same time they send a text message to the police
phone network, alerting officers. These capture cars have led to
the arrest and conviction of numerous persistent car thieves.
The use of the Automated Number Plate Recognition System
(ANPR) is also increasing. These cameras, sited at the side of the
road or in unmarked police vehicles, automatically record and
instantly check car registration numbers against the Police
National Database, as vehicles pass by. The system will instantly
identify stolen vehicles and vehicles known to be used by active
criminals and is an important tool in identifying and disrupting
criminals who travel through the Eastern Division committing
crime. ANPR is now deployed regularly on all the main arterial
routes across the Dorset Police area.
What is the Crime and
Disorder Reduction
partnership (CDRP)?
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 made it a statutory
requirement for councils, the Police, Primary Care Trusts, the
Fire and Rescue Service, other key agencies and the community
to work together at borough/district level to develop and
implement plans for reducing crime and disorder.
In Eastern Dorset (Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset and
Purbeck), the requirements of the Act were met through the
formation of the Eastern Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnership (CDRP), which sees the area’s four borough/district
authorities, Dorset County Council, Eastern Division of Dorset
Police, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, Primary Care Trusts,
Probation and Housing working together to address crime issues
across the Eastern policing division, and on a local level by
working with local action and community groups.
The 1998 Act also requires local authorities to consider the
impact of all of their functions on crime and disorder issues.
As part of their commitment to doing so, each of the four
Eastern Dorset authorities has a full-time officer dedicated to
tackling Community Safety who works closely with the police
and other partners.
They are:
●●● Christchurch: Natalie Murray (01202 495111)
●●● East Dorset: Martha Perry (01202 639032)
●●● North Dorset: John Bartlett (01258 484368)
●●● Purbeck: Karen Jaggs (01929 557387)
The Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership has recently
launch a new website, offering the latest news and information
on the good work the partnership is involved in. For any further
information on the partnership, please visit
www.dorsetworkingtogether.org
Two of Eastern Dorset CDRP’s four full-time
Community Safety Officers are Martha Perry
(East Dorset) and Karen Jaggs (Purbeck).
15

Eastern
As you get older, you are given more
freedom to do things and go places, which
means exposure to more danger and the
opportunity to take more risks. You are
expected to look after yourself rather than
relying on other people.
Eastern Division of Dorset Police has a Safe
Schools and Communities Team, which among
other things, spends a great deal of time
working with young people, from middle school
age to those in their late teens and early 20s.
They target anti-social behaviour issues such
as truancy, alcohol and substance misuse and
bullying. And they are there to give advice.
Here, Safer Dorset shares some advice from
the team - perhaps it’s common sense, perhaps
you know it all already. Read on and find out...
Mini motorcycle
Mini-Motorcycles: The Law
and You
With the increasing anti-social and illegal use of minimotorcycles,
Dorset Police takes positive action against
anyone found breaking the law on these vehicles - so it’s
worth you knowing what the rules are.
It is an offence, for example, to drive a mechanically
propelled vehicle off road on public land, footpaths or
bridleways. This includes pavements, cycle routes, in the
park, or bridleways.
To use a mini-motorcycle you must:
●●● Be over 16 yeas of age
●●● Have at least a provisional driving licence
●●● Wear an approved helmet
●●● Have tax and insurance
●●● Have undergone compulsory basic training
●●● Ensure the bike has a number plate and sufficient
tread on the tyres
●●● Not ride a bike on private land unless you have the
full permission of the landowner
Before you decide to purchase a mini motorcycle, please
visit the Dorset Police web site www.dorset.police.uk for
further information on the rules and off-road motorcycling.
Know the facts
People try drugs for all sorts of reasons
but there are consequences.
Remember:
●●● Some young people do die from drug
use even when they are not
considered addicts
●●● Taking drugs can develop into a pattern and for some it
interferes with their life and relationships
●●● Drug taking is expensive
●●● Risks are real and some cannot be avoided
●●● It’s worth getting the facts straight, from reliable sources
you trust
●●● It is a criminal offence to possess any controlled drug (a
prescription is needed for some) and punishments are
more serious for Class A drugs.
As for alcohol, it’s not only the physical effects that could be
Don’t lose out to thieves
The popularity of MP3 players and mobile phones has fuelled
a sharp rise in street robbery - it’s up to you to take the steps
necessary to secure your property, even at school or college.
Popular mobile phones and MP3 players
How can I reduce the risk of being targeted?
A thief will always go for the easy option. Mobile phone and
MP3 crime tends to happen at night, in the dark and in town
centres. Often robberies occur while someone is using their
phone, listening to their MP3 or texting.
Here are some simple guidelines to follow to prevent yourself
from being a victim of crime.
harmful if you drink to excess, it’s the risks you might be
taking if you lose control and judgement.
Remember:
Mobile Phones
■ Be vigilant. Know what’s going on around you. Try not to
use your phone if you can help it in higher risk areas. If you
do use it, make the calls short and don’t get into a long
conversation, which could make you less aware of what’s
going on around you. It will also draw attention to an
attacker that you have a mobile.
■ Keep your phone hidden and separate to other possessions.
■ If you are out at night always use your phone in a well-lit
area.
■ Give your number to trusted friends only.
■ If your phone is stolen - call ‘IMMOBILISE’ on
08701 123123
iPods/MP3/Pager
■ Always keep in a safe place like: inside pockets of coats,
jackets etc
■ Try not to flash your iPod around for others to see.
■ Don’t leave bags or rucksacks unattended with iPods in.
■ If at school lock iPods away in a locker whilst in lessons,
or give it to a teacher to look after.
Bicycle Security
●●● Know how strong your drink is
●●● Make sure you get your own drink and don’t
let anyone spike it
●●● Drink slowly and have something to eat before drinking
●●● Don’t mix drink and other drugs, even medicines
●●● Stop when you know you’ve had enough. Once you’ve
got alcohol in your system it can be harder to make the
right decision. Keep track of the units you’ve had and use
this to work out when to stop.
●●● Agree among your friends that you’ll look out for each
other. If you are going out in a group agree that one
person will not drink at all
●●● If you think you’ve got a problem, ask for help.
Want to know more? Log onto www.talktofrank.com
■ Always carry a chain and padlock or bike lock to lock your
bike up securely
■ Always try to use a strong anchor point to secure your
bike to
■ Lock the wheels and other detachable parts
■ Keep a record of the make/model, frame number and colour
of your bike
■ Property mark your bike by putting your postcode on the
frame in a clearly visible position
Remember
Remember!
We are appealing for the help of all young
people to design a poster for Bonfire Night.
The competition is open to all children
across the county between the ages of 5 and
16. The theme of the poster is up to you, but
it should be based around some sort of
message - for example, a message
reminding people of the danger of fireworks,
or that people and animals can find them
frightening.
The competition will be judged in two
categories: Ages 5 to 10 and 11 to 16.
One drawing will be chosen from each age
category and, out of these two drawings,
one will be the winner, the other will be the
runner-up.
The winner of the competition will receive a
framed edition of their artwork, a visit to
Dorset Police Headquarters plus a gift
voucher worth £25, and the runner-up will
receive a gift voucher worth £15.
To enter the competition, all you have to do
is send your drawing to: The Public
Relations Department, Media & Corporate
Communication Department, Dorset Police
Force HQ, Winfrith, Dorchester DT2 8DZ.
Please send A4 drawings
only and ensure that your
name, age, address and
telephone number are
included on the back of the
drawing. The closing date
for the competition is
Friday 7 September 2007.
16