Dorset Police and BCP Council launch town safety partnership

The campaign aims to reassure residents and visitors after recent incidents of anti-social behaviour and serious crime, including knife violence.

Dorset Police and BCP Council will be working with partners including St Mungo’s, frontline homelessness charity and the Bournemouth Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID).

Read more: No More Knives - the stakes are too high to do nothing >>>

It comes after the Daily Echo launched its No More Knives campaign following the death of Cameron Hamilton, 18, who was stabbed to death in Bournemouth town centre.

The Town Team Campaign launched on Thursday, August 17, in Bournemouth Square where Dorset Police, St Mungo’s and Bournemouth Town Centre BID will be engaging with the public.

BCP Council’s CSAS team (Community Safety Accreditation Scheme officers), antisocial behaviour, parks and cleansing teams have also been promoting the campaign.

Dorset Police and BCP Council’s CSAS officers will be partnering to provide an increased number of visible patrols through the town.

The teams will also be visiting shops and businesses to encourage the reporting of crime and anti-social behaviour.

They will jointly deliver days of action and regular community engagement events throughout the central Bournemouth area.

Cllr Kieron Wilson, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services at BCP Council, said: “We fully understand that residents and visitors are concerned over the incidence of serious crime and anti-social behaviour in Bournemouth.

“It is part of the reason why we have introduced the Town Team, to increase visible patrols and take a multi-agency, robust approach to crime and anti-social behaviour.

“This is just one element of our plan to improve Bournemouth Town Centre through enhanced partnership working and engagement with Dorset Police, council teams, Bournemouth Town Centre BID, as well as businesses, residents and visitors.”

READ MORE: No More Knives: More than 1,000 residents call for action on blades

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The Town Team will begin with early morning welfare checks with St Mungo’s, daytime patrols and enhanced police presence to support the nighttime economy.

A 24/7 CCTV service will also support officers as well as initiaves such as the safe bus, where people can access support.

Chief Superintendent Heather Dixey, Dorset Police Commander for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole said: “We’ve always worked very closely with BCP Council to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, but this new approach through the Bournemouth Town Team will truly cement that partnership.

“The local authority is primarily responsible for aggressive begging, street drinking and supporting those who find themselves homeless, with Dorset Police focused on criminality in the town, such as drug misuse and dealing, prolific shoplifting and targeting individuals involved in anti-social behaviour and those causing the most risk and harm.

“This joint approach will involve a focus on visibility and improving the area to ensure it remains safe and residents and visitors feeling safe.

“We’ve increased the number of neighbourhood officers and dedicated five of them to the town centre who will work a mixture of daytime and evening shifts to tackle criminality and engage with residents, visitors and businesses.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick said: “Cutting crime and ASB is the first priority in my Police and Crime Plan so being at the launch of the Bournemouth Town Team is really important to me.

“This team shows what can be done when partners who all share a common cause, work together to tackle the issues that matter to the people, not only to those who live in Bournemouth, but those who work there, shop there and just want to spend their time in one of our most well-known towns.

“When I talk about ‘the issues that matter’ I mean, dealing with issues like anti-social behaviour, street drinking, drug dealing, prolific shoplifting, and aggressive begging.

“Working in partnership, pooling resources and dovetailing the work of separate teams into the Bournemouth Town Team will mean more assertive policing, more enforcement action being taken, increased patrols in the town with the ability to hit ‘hotspot’ locations and all of this action will be aimed at driving down the misery that ASB, drug dealing, street drinking and the like cause.

“I am absolutely determined that a tougher, more enhanced, more proactive approach is taken and this Bournemouth Town Team, in particular will help achieve just that.”

Paul Kinvig, Chief Operating Officer for Bournemouth Town Centre BID said: “The only way all of us who live, work, visit and love the town centre can deal with the issues we face, is by working closely together and using our individual skills, resources and foci in partnership.

“That means police, local authorities, businesses and the public coming together to help drive down anti-social behaviour in all its forms. The Town Team principle allows us the opportunity to do just that.”