Great Dorset Steam Fair: Community meetings to address "concerns" over influx of visitors
Police say there have been concerns from residents over the influx of traffic and visitors to the area
Community "pop-up engagement" meetings hosted by police in Dorset are being put together, ahead of the Great Dorset Steam Fair.
Police say it's an opportunity for people to raise any concerns about the influx of traffic and visitors to the area, leading up to and during the fair.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Joe Turner who's the Inspector for the Neighbourhood Policing Team in East and North Dorset, explained:
"We're aware that there's some nervousness in the local community around the large influx of people coming to the Great Dorset Steam Fair.
"We wanted to do the pop-up engagement events to make sure that people have somewhere they can come to and talk to police, get crime prevention advice and reassure them that we are in the community for them."
In previous years, complaints have been reported from residents over the influx of visitors, particularly from the Traveller community, over unauthorised encampments and fly-tipping in and around local towns such as Blandford and Wimborne.
Crime and anti-social behaviour have been cited as some of the concerns usually brought up by residents. But speaking to us, Inspector Turner said report stats don't reflect a significant rise in these types of offences during the Steam Fair:
"Residents are normally nervous over a rise in crime and ASB (Anti-Social Behaviour) and actually interestingly the statistics will show that there is no big rise in crime or ASB around the time of the Great Dorset Steam Fair.
"The reason we want to do the pop-up engagements is to make sure that people feel reassured and engaged with us, and (know) that we are out there to deal with any unauthorised encampments that happen or any spike in crime or ASB."
To deal with the recurring issues, in July, Dorset County Council gave approval for a Gypsy and traveller transit site on land at Tarrant Hinton, near Blandford. The caravan site will accommodate up to one hundred Traveller caravans at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.
The site, off the A354 Salisbury Road, will only be in use for up to 21 days while the steam fair takes place.
The move has triggered special police powers which enable officers to move any illegally camped travellers on to the official site, or escort them out of the county.
Speaking to us, Inspector Turner from the Neighbourhood Policing Team in East and North Dorset, has welcomed the change:
"The temporary site makes it easier for us.
"If we do have unauthorised encampments in the local area then we have police powers that we can invoke, and we can redirect those people (to the temporary site).
Where meetings will take place
The local Neighbourhood Policing Team, Rural Crime Team and Citizens in Policing Team will hold a number of events, between the 20 and 28 August.
North Dorset Police, who announced the meeting times and locations, have invited people to turn up and take the opportunity to raise any concerns or questions.
Saturday, 20 August - Tarrant Hinton, 11am-12pm & 7-8pm
Sunday, 21 August - Pimperne, 11am-12pm & 7-8pm
Monday, 22 August - Sixpenny Handley, 11am-12pm & 7-8pm
Tuesday, 23 August - Tarrant Monkton, 11am-12pm & 7-8pm
Wednesday, 24 August - Tarrant Gunbille, 11am-12pm & 7-8pm
Thursday, 25 August - Farnham, 11am-12pm & 7-8pm
Friday, 26 August - Chettle, 11am-12pm & 7-8pm
Saturday, 27 August - Witchampton, 11am-12pm & 7-8pm
Sunday, 28 August - Tarrant Keynston, 11am-12pm & 7-8pm
More information can be found on the Neighbourhood Policing website or on North Dorset Police's Facebook Events page.