POLICE DETAILS
Dorset Police - Christchurch East Neighbourhood

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) came out as a close second on our priority surveys. ASB impacts on people’s lives and can be extremely personal. 

We are committed to supporting the community and tacking this head on. We work regularly with the Local Authority to target, disrupt and deter Anti-Social Behaviour. We effectively use civil orders such as Community Protection Notices, Anti-Social Behaviour Injunctions and Closure Orders, to deal with the most prolific people and impose prohibitions on them. We encourage reporting from the community to assist us with the evidence gathering process. In addition we will continue to provide high visibility patrols to deter antisocial activity and encourage reporting from the community to assist us with deploying our resources in the most effective way.

Drug Dealing

As with last year’s survey the number one priority highlighted was Drug Dealing.
 
 

We will continue to actively target street dealing, the wider supply chain and repeat offenders. We are acutely aware of the detrimental impact drug activity has on the community and local businesses. By targeting the most prolific offenders we aim to not only reduce overt street dealing but also protect those who become victims of cuckooing, leaving no place within our community where drug dealers can hide. In order to best deploy our resources we rely on community intelligence so that we can target specific locations at hotspot times, working with our partners to increase our disruption activity. It is only by working together that we can reduce this criminality and let the dealers know there is no place in our community for them.

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

Location:

Describe the issue & its affects:

What action will you take to tackle the issue:

• Engagement with the community to offer reassurance and encourage reporting
• Target offenders for disruption and positive action.
• Work with statutory partners to achieve meaningful intervention.

• Officers have been visiting businesses in the area and speaking with witnesses, to identify the group of children that have been offending in the area. Officers have visited the home address of any identified children to liaise with parents and offer warnings and education.

• Neighbourhood and Patrol Officers have both increased their presence in the area and taken positive action by returning children home and also making arrests when criminal offences have been committed.

Drugs

Location:

Describe the issue & its affects:

What action will you take to tackle the issue:

• Engagement with the community to offer reassurance and encourage reporting
• Target offenders for disruption and positive action.
• Work with partners such as BCP Council and Housing providers, to utilise civil action, maximising our impact.

• Officers have conducted multiple visits to a problematic address on Mudeford Lane, searching people and property and making arrests to maximise disruption and limit the negative impact on the community.

• Two prolific offenders that had been threatening people and using violence against others, were both arrested for various offences.

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

Location:

Describe the issue & its affects:

What action will you take to tackle the issue:

• Engagement with the community to offer reassurance and encourage reporting
• Target offenders for disruption and positive action.
• Work with statutory partners to achieve meaningful intervention.

• Officers have been visiting businesses in the area and speaking with witnesses, to identify the group of children that have been offending in the area. Officers have visited the home address of any identified children to liaise with parents and offer warnings and education.

• Neighbourhood and Patrol Officers have both increased their presence in the area and taken positive action by returning children home and also making arrests when criminal offences have been committed.

Drugs

Location:

Describe the issue & its affects:

What action will you take to tackle the issue:

• Engagement with the community to offer reassurance and encourage reporting
• Target offenders for disruption and positive action.
• Work with partners such as BCP Council and Housing providers, to utilise civil action, maximising our impact.

• Officers have conducted multiple visits to a problematic address on Mudeford Lane, searching people and property and making arrests to maximise disruption and limit the negative impact on the community.

• Two prolific offenders that had been threatening people and using violence against others, were both arrested for various offences.

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

Location:
Somerford Road, Bailey Bridge retail park

Issue: Abusive groups of children committing thefts, damage and low level assaults.

Action we will take: Work with the public and local businesses to identify suspects in order to take positive action with the aim of reducing offending and making the area safer for the general public and business employees.

July Update: This is a new priority that we have begun to tackle.
Officers have completed extensive CCTV enquiries and identified a number of children who have been repeatedly involved in the above-mentioned activity. Positive action has been taken and we await outcomes from the Youth Justice Team who are working to reduce re-offending through a number of initiatives.

Business crime including theft and criminal damage

Location: Christchurch town centre / Fairmile / Barrack Road

Issue: Shoplifting and damage predominantly caused by youths or drug users

Action we will take: Provide a SPOC for the local businesses to ensure a joined up approach to identifying suspects and taking robust action to break the offending cycle.

July Update: This is a new priority that we have begun to tackle.
Christchurch now has two extra officers who have been tasked with focussing on the town centre and Barrack road. They will be working with local businesses to identify repeat offenders and take positive action with the aim of making Christchurch town centre a safer place for all our visitors and residents.

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

Location:
Somerford Road, Bailey Bridge retail park

Issue: Abusive groups of children committing thefts, damage and low level assaults.

Action we will take: Work with the public and local businesses to identify suspects in order to take positive action with the aim of reducing offending and making the area safer for the general public and business employees.

August Update:
- Following extensive enquiries, officers identified a number of young people responsible for the reported incidents.
- Positive action has been taken, with key individuals being dealt with in relation to theft offences and low-level assaults. These cases remain under review by the Youth Justice Team, who are working with those involved to provide education, intervention and support aimed at reducing re-offending and preventing further anti-social behaviour.
- Following an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour and concerns for welfare involving a group of young people in the Somerford area, officers have worked closely with the Safer Schools Team and BCP Council's Anti-Social Behaviour Team to identify those involved. Through the use of the local consequences scheme, warning letters have been issued to the parents and guardians of those identified, highlighting concerns and setting clear expectations regarding future behaviour.
- A particular address was also brought to our attention following concerns raised by members of the community. Officers conducted a joint visit with the housing provider and continue to work in partnership to address the issues reported and provide long-term solutions for those affected.
- Officers have continued to conduct reassurance patrols and engagement visits with local businesses, providing crime prevention advice and encouraging the reporting of any further incidents.
- The Neighbourhood Policing Team has also attended the area with the Mobile Police Station, offering residents and members of the public the opportunity to discuss concerns, share information and receive updates on police activity in the area.
- Additional high-visibility patrols have been carried out at key times identified through intelligence and community feedback.
- We continue to work closely with local businesses, partner agencies and the community to monitor the situation, identify any new offenders and take appropriate action where necessary. These efforts have contributed to a reduction in reported incidents and aim to ensure the area remains a safe environment for residents, visitors and those working locally

July Update: This is a new priority that we have begun to tackle.
Officers have completed extensive CCTV enquiries and identified a number of children who have been repeatedly involved in the above-mentioned activity. Positive action has been taken and we await outcomes from the Youth Justice Team who are working to reduce re-offending through a number of initiatives.

Business crime including theft and criminal damage

Location: Christchurch town centre / Fairmile / Barrack Road

Issue: Shoplifting and damage predominantly caused by youths or drug users

Action we will take: Provide a SPOC for the local businesses to ensure a joined up approach to identifying suspects and taking robust action to break the offending cycle.

August Update:
- Since the introduction of two new Neighbourhood Policing Team officers to the Christchurch area, officers have been actively engaging with businesses and residents across Christchurch Town Centre, Fairmile and Barrack Road. The new officers have been carrying out visits to local businesses, introducing themselves to the community and strengthening relationships to ensure concerns are identified and addressed promptly.
- Following reports of a series of plant thefts affecting local residents and businesses, officers worked closely with members of the community to gather information and review available CCTV footage. This has resulted in the identification of a suspect, and enquiries remain ongoing to establish their identity and take appropriate action.
- The new Local Policing Inspector has also conducted patrols within the area and met with representatives from the Business Improvement District (BID). Discussions focused on current crime trends, concerns affecting local businesses and opportunities for improved information sharing to support intelligence development and the identification of offenders.
- Officers have continued high-visibility patrols in key locations, taking robust action against individuals whose behaviour has had a negative impact on the community. This has included the use of dispersal powers (Section 35 notices) to address anti-social behaviour, street drinking and associated disorder.
- Local businesses have been encouraged to report incidents and share CCTV opportunities to assist investigations.
- We will continue to work closely with businesses, residents and partner agencies to identify suspects, disrupt offending and ensure those responsible for shoplifting, criminal damage and anti-social behaviour are dealt with appropriately. Through ongoing engagement, intelligence gathering and targeted patrol activity, we aim to reduce crime and keep Christchurch Town Centre, Fairmile and Barrack Road safe for businesses, employees and the wider community.

July Update: This is a new priority that we have begun to tackle.
Christchurch now has two extra officers who have been tasked with focussing on the town centre and Barrack road. They will be working with local businesses to identify repeat offenders and take positive action with the aim of making Christchurch town centre a safer place for all our visitors and residents.