Dorset receives £1.6m to put more "bobbies on the beat"
Dorset Police is set to receive £1.6million to recruit more officers as part of a national initiative to ‘bolster’ neighbourhood policing
Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed plans to “put more bobbies on the beat”.
The force will receive £1.6 million to further crackdown on shoplifting and antisocial behaviour in “hotspot areas”.
Despite the million-pound cash injection, Dorset remains the second lowest-funded police force in the country.
PCC David Sidwick said: “We could absolutely do with more police officers but when I look at the funding, I see that we are at the bottom of the pack.
“So, although this funding will help us, it could be so much better if we had the funding that the people of Dorset rightfully deserve.”
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer said a lack of visible police is “driving street crime” and in turn more serious and violent offences.
Unlike other counties, Dorset never strayed or withdrew neighbourhood police officers.
The Police and Crime Commissioner says visible policing not only makes people feel safer but also gives the police more intelligence to crackdown on crime.
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He told us: “The closer officers are to the population, the more information they’ll have and the more they can address those in our society that want to do us harm.
“I'm a great believer in prevention, not just reaction and that's where I'm trying to encourage Dorset Police to go.”
Last year, visible policing across ‘hotspots areas’ helped reduce violence by 70% and anti-social behaviour by 67%.
The force now hopes to expand that scheme and introduce officers to more neighbourhood across the whole county.
In a speech last week, Sir Keir said: "Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure on the streets they call home. It is just about the most basic right that anyone would expect.”
June will see recruitment campaigns for police community support officers (PCSOs) and neighbourhood special constables.