Efforts bypolice to ensure that people in Dorset enjoyed

1.  

 

a safe Christmas and New Year have resulted in total crime falling – with

violent crime and vehicle crime also dropping during December compared to the

previous year.

During December 2010 total crime fell by

10.7% compared to 2009 – resulting in 381 fewer crimes in Dorset.

Violent crime also dropped last month

compared to December 2009 – resulting in 52 fewer violent crimes across

the county, which equates to a reduction of 6.3%.

Police have continued to reduce violent

crime through the work carried out under Operation Protect.

Over the festive season additional

officers were on patrol in the evenings in towns across the county.

Radio advertising and posters have been

used as part of Operation Protect to get messages out to the public warning

them of the dangers of drinking too much alcohol – such as ending up in a

police station or a hospital.

In addition, partnership funded short

animated films highlighting the dangers and potential consequences of drinking

to excess featured on You Tube, Twitter and Facebook last month.

Superintendent Dave Thorp said: “I

am pleased that crime dropped over the festive season compared to 2009.

“We took a proactive approach to

policing over the Christmas and New Year period, with increased officers on

patrol providing a high visibility service to the public.

“Our staff and officers carried out

their duties in a highly professional manner during the New Year celebrations

– which is traditionally a busy time for the force.”

In the build up to the Christmas and New

Year celebrations officers worked closely with licensees, advising them how a

safe and enjoyable atmosphere can be achieved.

Police officers, alongside council licensing officers

and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service staff, also visited town centre licensed

premises, taking action against anyone found flouting licensing laws.

Also, alcohol was seized from people under the age of 18 and,

in certain cases, parents of those acting in an anti-social manner were

contacted to advise them that their son or daughter had been brought to the

attention of the police.

Superintendent Thorp said: “There were over 50

fewer violent crimes in Dorset in December

2010 compared to December 2009.

“A lot of partnership work was done during the festive

season to make people aware of the potential consequences they could face if

they drank to excess – like getting into a fight and ending up in a

police station, or drinking so much that they need to receive hospital

treatment.

“We worked closely with our partners to get these

messages out to the public and I’m pleased to see that the result of this

work – along with our enhanced policing – has seen fewer victims of

violent crime in Dorset.”

Over the New Year period – between 10pm on Friday 31

December 2010 and 6.30am on Saturday 1 January 2011 – Dorset Police dealt

with 487 incidents across the county and made 69 arrests.