Significant reduction in crime

According to Dorset Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Martin Hiles, the work of the police and partnership teams has significantly reduced the crime rate in Dorset since he took over a year ago.

The total recorded crime in 2009/2010 has fallen by five per cent compared to 2008/2009. The biggest areas in reduction are violent crime, which has fallen by 5.3 per cent, and burglaries, which have fallen by 8.4 per cent.

However, Chief Superintendent Hiles admitted it had been a challenging year, “The ongoing economic climate has certainly had an impact, and we’ve had to continually find ways of working smarter with the money we have.

“We have worked extremely closely with the councils and other partners who are absolutely essential to making our communities safer, and we will continue to work alongside them to reduce levels further.”