Two Years On: Cut Crime and ASB
After two years as your Police and Crime Commissioner, I wanted to update you on all the work that has been happening over the last twelve months to progress the priorities of my Police and Crime Plan.
So, over the next few weeks, you will see newsletters from me, updating you about the work that has been happening under each priority area and this week I would like to begin with telling you more about how we have been working to - Cut Crime and ASB.
ASB
Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) remains a priority for both me and Dorset Police. The force has continued to implement Operation Relentless to tackle ASB, with hot spot patrols continuing across the county. I am pleased to be able to report that incidents of ASB have reduced by 13% compared to 21/22.
As with any crime, enforcement alone is not enough to tackle ASB. That’s why over the last year I have commissioned a further two rounds of the Operation Relentless Community Fund, the latter of which is currently accepting applications from organisations for projects and initiatives that reduce ASB and/or increase public feeling of safety in areas disproportionately affected by ASB. ASB can have a hugely negative impact on communities and this fund is all about giving Dorset’s residents the power to come together and combat the issue in a way that suits their community.
Round 2 of the fund saw 12 projects receive £50,000 for a range of initiatives designed to reduce ASB across Dorset. Projects included the installation of CCTV in hotspots, the securing of disused buildings and outreach work with young people.
Over the past two rounds of the fund, I have seen the positive impact these projects can have on communities suffering from ASB. I have heard from numerous residents and organisations that they have seen a change in behaviour in their area and are feeling safer. I have also heard from numerous participants that if it wasn’t for the projects, they would be ‘getting up to no good’.
Burglary
The results of my Summer Safety Survey, last year, showed that burglary was one of the top three crimes that concerned Dorset residents and in late 2022 I shared with the Police and Crime Panel that I had consulted with the force over the attendance rate at dwelling burglaries and was satisfied that such crimes get 100% attendance from Dorset Police.
Earlier this year, I was pleased to see Dorset Police make a commitment to uphold this 100% attendance rate as they supported the national commitment to visit all victims of home burglary and I vowed to ensure that this took place.
I’d like to make it very clear that I understand the detrimental impact burglaries can have on victims. It is more than just having your possessions taken, it’s not feeling safe in your own home and feeling violated. That’s why I am pleased to be able to report that, as of December 2022, dwelling burglaries had reduced by 17% and non-dwelling burglaries by 22.2%.
Support for young people
Throughout the last year, I have continued with the “fix the future” initiative, with a focus on community interventions and ownership, gathering the voice of young people, and commissioning of educational packages to reduce youth re-offending.
Through my Fix the Future Community Grant scheme a total of over £41,000 was awarded to 9 projects and initiatives that reflect the needs of younger people, give them development opportunities, add value to the community and ultimately, make Dorset a safer place to live.
In recent weeks I have been to visit some of the funded projects, and I have been impressed with the impact they are having not just on the young people involved but on the wider community. In Sherborne, Future Roots received funding for a youth outreach project that sees staff patrol hotspots where young people hang out, acting as a friendly face and a deterrent to bad behaviour. I spoke to two local supermarkets that are visited as part of the patrols and both reported seeing a decrease in incidents of ASB and abuse towards staff since the outreach programme launched.
These are just a few of the highlights of the work that has happened over the last year towards the cutting crime and ASB priority of my Police and Crime Plan. I encourage you to continue to read my newsletters over the coming weeks to hear more highlights from the other five priorities and eventually, the full annual report when it is published.
This priority was very clearly important to the people of Dorset – progress is being made and is helping us drive further towards Dorset being the safest county.
David Sidwick
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner