Dorset Police 'fully prepared' for influx of tourists this summer

Around 4 million people stay in Dorset every year

Author: Maria GreenwoodPublished 7th Jun 2022

Dorset Police says it's fully prepared to cope with a significant influx of visitors this summer.

On average the county has over 25 million annual visitors for day trips, with nearly 4 million staying for short breaks or holidays.

Officers are working with hotels and other accommodation owners to make sure they can spot the signs of criminality - from modern day slavery to child sexual exploitation.

Chief Superintendent Mark Callaghan told us, just because they will be busy, it doesn't mean criminals will slip through the net:

"What we will not tolerate is violence and criminality to our communities. It's about the relentless pursuit of offenders and making sure Dorset is a safe place for everybody.

"Of course if more people go away on holiday, that will take some of the pressure off of us, but I wouldn't want people to think that we are not going to have a busy tourist season, because we are.

"It's Dorset, its a lovely county, who wouldn't want to come to us? Why would we not want to promote Dorset as a great place to come, but, it comes with its pressures and stretches on the emergency services."

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