A ‘DAY of action’ has been organised to ensure public safety over the festive season.

The initiative will take place today, November 18, within Christmas Tree Wonderland in Bournemouth Square and Lower Gardens, and will focus on anti-social behaviour (ASB) and raising community engagement.

There will be engagement stands set up, as well as a high-tech knife arch and Bournemouth Town Centre BID Rangers actively patrolling the town centre.

It is the latest in a series of days of action in the town centre, demonstrating the collaborative work of BCP Council and partners.

Teams involved in today's event include the council’s ASB, Licensing and Trading Standards teams; Community Safety (CSAS) Officers; Dorset Police; Bournemouth Town Centre BID (Business Improvement District) Rangers; WISE Litter Enforcement Officers and We are With You youth services.

Councillor Kieron Wilson, portfolio holder for housing and regulatory services at BCP Council, said: "This latest day of action allows us to directly engage with residents.

"We want to know what’s working, where improvements are seen, and what could be improved further in Bournemouth town centre, particularly over the busy festive period.

"I encourage everyone who can to visit the engagement stands in Bournemouth Square and Lower Gardens, or to engage digitally via our social media channels.”

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates considerable decreases in ASB across Dorset, with personal ASB reducing 39 per cent, nuisance ASB 19 per cent and environmental ASB 27 per cent since 2022.

In the BCP area, reports of ASB have reduced by 6 per cent - equivalent to 113 individual cases.

Chief superintendent and BCP commander Heather Dixey, of Dorset Police, said: “We are committed to reducing crime, including ASB, across communities in the BCP area and the rest of the county.

"We will continue to work with our partner agencies, such as housing associations and local councils, as part of our bid to make Dorset a safe place for people to live, work and visit."

Paul Kinvig, chief operating officer at Bournemouth Town Centre BID, said: “Our town centre BID Rangers, whilst having no formal powers, play a key role in not only supporting the businesses in the town centre but also as part of the Town Team approach.

“It’s imperative in this key retail period that the daily ongoing commitment by BCP Council and partners to town centre safety and security, of which days of action are a part, delivers tangible and lasting results for residents, visitors and workers.”