Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner

17/06/2026

Well done to everyone involved in the latest Op Ragwort day of action, working together to successfully tackle rural crime.

Police forces from across the region conducted a day of action targeting rural crime in Somerset.

Officers from Avon and Somerset Police joined forces with colleagues from Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire to target the movement of stolen machinery, vehicles and identify any related rural offences on the A38 Bristol Road, in Brent Knoll, on Wednesday (10 June).

The operation, which was also held alongside partners from Trading Standards and the Environment Agency, gave officers the chance to share expertise and best practice among rural crime colleagues.

⛔ Several vehicles were stopped and checked to ensure they’re not involved in criminality, and several arrests were made in connection with suspected offences, including possession of class B drugs, drug driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, as well as other traffic and immigration offences.

⛔ The Environment Agency also stopped 20 vehicles which were transporting waste, and five of these were doing so without the correct licensing. Three sites used for the potential illegal disposal of waste have also been identified, and concerns were raised over whether another site is operating Illegally.

✅ Advice and guidance were provided to all those transporting waste, including information on upcoming regulatory changes. Intelligence gathered will be used to develop leads for audits of waste carriers, brokers, and dealers, and enforcement options were considered where appropriate, including fixed penalty notices and vehicle seizures.

➡️ Read more: https://orlo.uk/CuMzx

17/06/2026

Sadly, we don’t mean the football. We mean what happens after. The domestic abuse that increases when England play. Join the team tackling this today - www.womensaid.org.uk/football-campaign

15/06/2026

I am proud to support We Are Hourglass for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day today and remain committed to backing projects and initiatives which support vulnerable people in communities across Dorset.

If you are worried about yourself, or someone you know that is over the age of 60, contact the charity's free and confidential helpline 24/7 on 0808 808 8141📞

15/06/2026

Dorset PCC responds to Government social
media ban for under 16s..

“Protecting children and young people is a non-negotiable priority, and one that must remain absolutely at the forefront of our approach to online safety. I strongly support measures that restrict access to social media for under 16s, as we know the risks around harm, exploitation and exposure to inappropriate content are real and growing. This is about giving young people the time and space to develop safely, while ensuring parents, schools and communities are better supported to protect them both online and offline.

“However, while restrictions on access are a welcome step, they do not remove the fundamental responsibility of technology companies to tackle harmful content at source. Tech firms must continue to go further and faster to ensure their platforms are safe by design, preventing the spread of damaging material and protecting users of all ages.”

Social media platforms to be blocked from offering services to under-16s, marking a line in the sand and setting a new normal for future generations.

12/06/2026

If you have a few minutes, please take the time to fill out Dorset Police's survey.

The more people they hear from, the better picture they can build about what's happening where.

HERE FOR HER SAFETY | This summer will see uniformed and non-uniformed officers working together in our towns to tackle predatory behaviour in the night-time economy.

Project Vigilant involves officers specially trained to spot signs of predatory behaviour so they can step in and take positive action before further harm occurs. It marks a shift in focus, from victims, to holding perpetrators accountable there and then.

We want all of our communities to feel safe when going about in the evening, but we recognise women and girls are disproportionately affected by harassment and violence.

Detective Chief Inspector Jamie Halford, Dorset Police’s lead for Project Vigilant, said: “We want everyone to feel safe enjoying a night out in Dorset’s towns and this project is a further demonstration of our commitment to being here for the safety of women and girls in our public spaces.

“By having teams of non-uniformed officers working alongside uniformed colleagues, we can effectively spot signs of predatory behaviour while also providing a visible policing presence and together they can take positive action to prevent, deter and tackle harmful behaviour.”

To help inform our operation, we are asking women and girls to share their experiences, tell us about areas where they feel unsafe and the reasons behind this. Please take the time to fill in the short survey via QR code below or the link in the comments so we can take positive action to help keep women and girls safe.

Please note this feedback survey is not a reporting tool. If you need to report a crime please call 101, visit our website or in an emergency please dial 999.

12/06/2026

💡Did you know your household has a legal duty to care when disposing of waste?

Even if you hire someone to remove your waste, you’re still responsible for making sure it’s disposed of legally. ✅

To protect yourself:
Ask the company for their license number and check it on the Environment Agency website.
Request a waste transfer note and a detailed receipt with the business’s details.
If a price seems too good to be true or they can’t tell you where the waste is going… think twice! ⚠️

Learn more about your duty to care and how you can help to fight fly-tipping: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/scrap-flytipping

11/06/2026

As Dorset enters its busiest and most pressured season, I know planning for this period with partners has been intensive over the past few months.

As part of this work, the Force has launched the Good Safe Summer campaign in May, bringing together the police, local authorities, businesses and community partners to help ensure that residents and visitors can enjoy everything the county has to offer safely and responsibly.

Preparing Dorset for a Good Safe Summer

09/06/2026

Think drug driving only applies to illegal substances? Think again.

Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can seriously affect your reaction times, concentration and judgement.

Always check the label before driving — if it says “Do not drive or operate machinery”, take it seriously. These medications can cause fatigue which increases the risk of causing a road traffic collision.

Drug driving can lead to:
🚫 A driving ban
💷 A criminal record and fine
📉 Increased insurance costs
💼 Loss of employment - especially if you drive for work

07/06/2026

As we celebrate Volunteers Week, it is important to mark the contribution made by volunteers in policing as well as at all of the OPCC commissioned services. This includes the team at Restorative Justice Dorset, where many of the victim-focused services are delivered by volunteers who co-facilitate mediation for anti-social behaviour cases, face to face Restorative Justice conferences, and restorative awareness courses for offences such as assaults on emergency workers, and retail crime.

The current 10 volunteers bring a wide range of their own skills and experiences such as students, working, and retired people. They have been fully trained to do the roles and there are ongoing development opportunities, with a minimum requirement to offer eight hours a month.

Restorative Justice offers victims an opportunity to be heard, to ask questions of the offender, and to have their say in the resolution of the harm caused; it is not an alternative to the offender’s sentencing.

Find out more about volunteering

Becoming a volunteer You will receive full training and, once you have experience in this area of Restorative Justice, you will be invited to attend a further two-day training course, where the outcome will be that you become a Volunteer Restorative Justice Practitioner. You will then be able to wor...