DORSET SAFER OVER CHRISTMAS PERIOD

An intensive campaign by Dorset Police to cut crime over the festive period has resulted in total recorded crime falling.

During December 2008, the total recorded crime fell by 3.9 per cent to 3,702 offences while violent crime fell by 9.3 per cent to 867 offences.

Most serious crime fell by 20.7 per cent to 23 offences while assault with less serious injury fell by 3.5 per cent to 335 offences.

Theft from vehicles fell by 3.6 per cent to 244 offences and criminal damage fell by 5.2 per cent to 860 offences.

Instances of anti-social behaviour between Christmas Eve 2008 and New Year’s Day 2009 fell by 6.5 per cent to 871 offences compared with the same period the previous year.

The number of breath tests that were positive, failed or refused fell by 19.7 per cent – from 173 to 139 – during this year’s drink drive campaign, between 1 December 2008 and 1 January 2009, when compared to the previous year.

The fall in crime has been in part due to multi-agency planning and working between Dorset Police, local councils, the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service as well as the ambulance service.

Chief Constable Martin Baker said: “We are very grateful to all those members of the public who heard our advice and helped us to cut crime over Christmas and the New Year period.

“…We will be relentless in our efforts to make Dorset even safer in 2009 but, as ever, we will continue to need the help of the public and our partners to achieve this.”

Over the New Year period – between 10pm on 31 December 2008 and 7am on New Year’s Day 1 January 2009 – Dorset Police dealt with a record 441 incidents, the majority of which were emergency calls from the public.

Between 10pm and New Year’s Eve and 6.30am on New Year’s Day 2009, there were 72 arrests, 19 down on the same period the previous year.

Dorset Police has the highest national public confidence rating in England and Wales – and exceeds standards for focusing on, and working with, local communities.

In September 2008, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary described Dorset Police as a “market leader” in its assessment of performance in relation to citizen focus and neighbourhood policing.