Anti-social behaviour strategy passed in Dorset County

Dorset Community Safety Partnership (CSP) has signed up to its first agreed countywide anti-social behaviour strategy to improve the quality of life for communities in the Dorset County Council area.

The strategy sets out how partner organisations will prevent and further reduce incidence of anti-social behaviour, thereby improving community safety and perceptions about safety among residents and visitors to Dorset.

Anti-social behaviour is a key priority for community safety partners in Dorset and the strategy sets out a three-year plan designed to ensure a coordinated response across all six districts and boroughs in the Dorset County area.

The partnership, which includes organisations such as Dorset Police, local councils, health, probation and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service, recently committed to a set of minimum standards which sets out the level of service members of the public can expect to receive and how complaints about anti-social behaviour will be dealt with. Members of the public can find both the anti-social behaviour strategy and minimum standards at www.dorsetforyou.com/communitysafety.

Local authority anti-social behaviour reduction officers and case workers are in place across Dorset in order to tackle issues in partnership with Dorset Police and local housing providers.

Councillor Ray Nottage, Chair of the Dorset Community Safety Partnership said: “Anti-social behaviour can cause a significant amount of harm to individuals and communities and all members of the partnership are committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and reducing the impact it has on people's quality of life.

“The strategy intends to build on the outstanding partnership work already operating in the county, to ensure that we get real results in tackling anti-social behaviour in our area.

“Over recent years we have seen reductions in both crime and anti-social behaviour, leading to Dorset being one of the safest places in the country to live, work and visit. This is very positive but we cannot become complacent about the task ahead to keep these levels low. We are fully aware of the impact that anti-social behaviour can have on individuals quality of life and how it can destabilise communities.

“We need to ensure communities themselves understand the response to anti-social behaviour is a collective responsibility and the part they can play in working with agencies to ensure anti-social behaviour is tackled not tolerated.”

Anti-social behaviour can be anything from teenagers drinking on street

corners and noisy neighbours, to vandalism, graffiti and litter.

If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour you are encouraged to report incidents to your local district or borough council. Please use the contact numbers below:

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Christchurch - 01202 495044

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East Dorset - 01202 639032

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North Dorset - 01258 484368

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Purbeck - 01929 557396

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West Dorset - 01305 226626

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Weymouth and Portland - 01305 838637/226536

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Dorset Police - 01305/01202 222 222 (non emergency only, dial 999

if a crime is in progress or a life is in danger)