96% of Dorset residents say they feel safe in their communities
The results from a Community Safety Survey for Dorset have been revealed
Ninety-six per cent of Dorset residents state they feel safe in their communities, according to the 2020/21 Community Safety Survey, which was completed by Dorset residents earlier this year.
There has been a significant improvement in how the public views the police, with an average of 79 per cent of respondents feeling that Dorset Police is doing a good job, which is an increase from the previous year at 55 per cent.
There was also a rise in public confidence to 79 per cent, an 11 per cent improvement in the last year. Furthermore, 77 per cent of respondents stated that they feel relations between people and the police in their neighbourhood is good, a 19 per cent increase in the last year.
When asked if Dorset Police is ‘doing a good job’, respondents from all county areas responded positively and reported an overall increase.
In the survey, a series of questions were asked as statements to help understand how respondents felt about Dorset Police. All ten statements saw an increase, with a few standing out. There was a 24 per cent increase to 83 per cent of responses stating that Dorset Police ‘provides you with the information you need’. Additionally, there was a rise of 15 per cent to 70 per cent of respondents who felt they could rely on the police. Respondents who agreed that the police would ‘treat you with respect’ increased by 4 per cent to 89 per cent.
Confusion over crime rates
Some residents reported they thought crime had gone up in their local area. Many of them stated that reporting in the media has caused them to believe that crime has increased or that they know someone who has experienced crime.
Whilst these reasons are valid and understandable, overall crime across Dorset has been reduced by 6.0 per cent, according to the recent report from the Office for National Statistics, with Dorset remaining one of the safest counties in the country. The report showed the total number of crimes reported reduced from 51,997 to 48,873 over the 12 months to the end of June 2021, reducing 4.0 crimes per 1,000 of the population.
The latest figures show that compared to the national data, Dorset has delivered a reduction in violence against the person offences – a reduction of 1.9 per cent in Dorset compared to an increase nationally of 8.0 per cent.
Violence with injury dropped by 7.0 per cent, compared to the national average that was down by 3.7 per cent. Victim Based Crime saw a reduction from 46,116 to 42,972, a decrease of 6.8 per cent
Increase in public confidence
The survey results show a steady climb in public confidence in Dorset Police over the 2020/21 surveying period. This feedback from Dorset residents is particularly encouraging, considering officers and staff have continued to work through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, government restrictions and various lockdowns.
Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya said: “We are very proud of our officers and staff, who have worked closely with our partners to keep the people of Dorset safe and reduce crime and disorder.
“The Force takes all reported crimes seriously and listens to the concerns and views of our communities. We are committed to working closely with partners to address problem areas, including issues with and reports of anti-social behaviour.
“Over the past year, the Force has recruited over 60 officers and will continue to add this new talent with more officers recruited over the coming months. This recruitment shows our continued commitment to providing outstanding service to the people of Dorset.
“The Force continues to work with partners to keep our county safe and support and safeguard the most vulnerable in our communities. This commitment builds upon our culture of continuous improvement as we aim to provide efficient and effective services for Dorset, maintain confidence and develop positive relationships with the people of Dorset.”
Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “I am grateful to everyone who took time to complete the survey. It’s really important that we are in touch with the communities we serve and that the voice of residents is heard loud and clear when it comes to community safety.”
The statistics speak for themselves and I am really pleased that so many residents say they feel safe in our county, but there is still more to be done, more to be achieved.
“My police and crime plan sets out a road map for how my vision of Dorset becoming the safest county is to be achieved and I will work tirelessly to realise that vision on behalf of the people I serve.”