News

Vehicle crime in Poole is being tackled and the local community are reaping the benefits following the formation of a new task group.

As part of Poole's Crime and Disorder Partnership, representatives from Dorset Police, Borough of Poole, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and Neighbourhood Watch are working together to reduce the number of vehicle related incidents. This includes theft of and from vehicles, vehicle security and abandoned vehicles.

Inspector Mick Rogers, Section Commander, Gravel Hill Police Station, said: "Theft from motor vehicles accounts for 19% of all offences reported to the Police. Since the introduction of the Crime and Disorder Strategy for Poole in 1999, vehicle crime in Poole has fallen to 11.8%. The group is already proving to be a valuable asset to the local community and they are currently looking to work with retail outlets regarding car crime committed on their property."

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 places a duty on all local authorities and the Police to work in partnership to develop a three year strategy for tackling crime. Vehicle Crime was identified as one of the six priority areas to tackle within Poole.

Shaun Robson, Consumer Protection Services, Borough of Poole, said: "Pooling information and resources is a powerful way forward to combat the problems of vehicle crime. Exchanging information between the relevant agencies and being able to target resources, ensures that the problem is tackled in the correct manner leading to a positive outcome. The agencies involved and the local community are already feeling the benefits of this action".

He added: "Whilst we are all working to reduce crime, it is important to remember that Poole is a very safe place to live, work or visit. The fear of crime is a much larger problem than the crime itself and we plan to do some positive work to increase the level of public reassurance".

Councillor Graham Wilson, Executive Spokesperson for Community Information and Support Services, said: "It is good to see such positive work coming from the Crime & Disorder Partnership in Poole and this new group is yet another aspect of the strategy that our local community will benefit from. We are all concerned about reducing crime in the areas where we live and it is encouraging to see that working together we can clearly achieve this."

The following initiatives have already been implemented in Poole:

• enhanced protocols between the Police and Consumer Protection with regard to the policy on burnt out and abandoned vehicles
• 'Secured Car Parks' award for Poole's multi-storey car parks
• the identification of 'hot spot' areas of crime resulting in targeted action
• leaflet drops warning of the dangers of vehicle crime which have had a significant effect
• greater liaison between the town's managed car parks and DVLA with regard to abandoned vehicles and those without any tax