Visible, Trusted, Connected: Neighbourhood Policing in Dorset
As Neighbourhood Policing Week comes to an end, I want to take a moment to reflect on what neighbourhood policing means for Dorset and why it remains a top priority for me as your Police and Crime Commissioner. From our bustling town centres to our rural villages and coastal communities, Dorset Police neighbourhood policing teams are building relationships, solving problems and working alongside local people to keep communities safe. Their work is at the heart of effective policing and plays a vital role in building trust and confidence across Dorset.
When I speak to residents across the county, they are clear about what matters to them. They want action on antisocial behaviour, support for victims and reassurance that local concerns are being listened to and acted upon. Above all, they want policing that is visible, accessible and connected to the communities it serves.
Neighbourhood policing delivers all of this and more.
It is often neighbourhood officers who know the local issues, understand the people involved and work with partners to tackle problems before they escalate. Whether it is addressing antisocial behaviour, protecting vulnerable people, preventing crime, supporting local businesses or tackling rural crime, neighbourhood teams play a crucial role in making Dorset safer.
As Police and Crime Commissioner, I have consistently championed neighbourhood policing because I believe it is fundamental to effective policing. Officers who are visible, accessible and embedded within their communities help prevent crime, improve public confidence and strengthen community safety.
That is why I am particularly pleased to see the continued expansion of Dorset Police's Community Contact Points across the county, alongside the use of the Mobile Police Stations. Together, these initiatives are making it easier for residents to meet their local officers, raise concerns and receive crime prevention advice. They also support the principles of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, ensuring people have regular opportunities to engage with local policing teams, know who is policing their area and have confidence that local concerns are being heard and acted upon.
I am also pleased that the forces neighbourhood policing teams have recently been strengthened with 40 new officers joining teams across Dorset. These additional officers will focus on the issues that matter most to local people, helping to ensure the public not only remain safe but, crucially, feel safe in their communities.
Feeling safe where you live, work and spend your time is fundamental to people's quality of life and their confidence in policing. Thanks to Dorset Police's strong financial management, the work of Project Evolve and investment through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, the Force is able to strengthen its neighbourhood policing teams even further and continue delivering the visible policing that residents expect.
There is, of course, more to do and I know that residents continue to have concerns about antisocial behaviour, rural crime and community safety. That is why I remain committed to working with Dorset Police to ensure neighbourhood policing remains strong, responsive and focused on the issues that matter most to local people.
My thanks go to every neighbourhood police officer, PCSO, Special Constable, volunteer and partner organisation for the work they do every day on behalf of Dorset's communities. Their professionalism, compassion and commitment deserve recognition not just this week, but throughout the year.
Finally, I want to thank Dorset's residents. Community safety is a shared responsibility, and neighbourhood policing is strongest when policing and communities work together. By reporting concerns, engaging with local teams and helping shape local priorities, residents play a crucial role in keeping Dorset safe.
Neighbourhood Policing Week may be coming to a close, but the work continues every day. Together, we will continue to build safer communities, increase public confidence and ensure Dorset remains one of the safest counties in the country.
David Sidwick
Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset