Q&A Series: Police Presence in Poundbury. What's Changing?
Updated: Aug 24
This article is part of our Q&A series and follows the Stakeholder Panel at the Community Association of Poundbury AGM on 21 May 2025. We are grateful to all the panel members and to our members who submitted questions in advance. This article has also been informed by responses from our local PCSO Jane Goodwin.
Community safety is one of the topics our members feel most strongly about, and questions about visible policing are frequently raised. At our AGM in May, we put this question to the Stakeholder Panel. Although no police representative was able to attend in person, the Mayor of Dorchester, Les Fry — who brings a long career in the police to this role — stepped in to respond with characteristic authority and reassurance.
The question asked was: We’ve heard about a planned increase in police presence in Dorset. What will these new officers focus on and how will that affect daily life in Poundbury?
What we heard
Mayor Fry reiterated something that applies as much in Poundbury as anywhere in the area: the single most effective thing residents can do when they witness suspicious activity is to report it, preferably online. Online reporting allows the police to log, track and respond to patterns of concern more effectively than individual phone calls. Even if nothing seems to come of a single report, each one builds a picture that informs where resources are deployed.
How to report
Dorset Police's online reporting tool is available at dorset.police.uk. You can report non-emergency concerns, suspicious behaviour, and community safety issues there at any time. If you believe a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger, always call 999.
What about the increase in officers?
There is good news on this front. Dorset Police received £1.6m in 2025/26 from a £200m national government fund specifically dedicated to neighbourhood policing. Chief Constable Amanda Pearson has outlined plans to use this to recruit Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and neighbourhood special constables—with recruitment campaigns launching this month—as well as bringing in support staff to free up existing officers for frontline neighbourhood roles.
The results of Dorset Police's Operation Track pilot, which placed high-visibility foot patrols in antisocial behaviour hotspots in Bournemouth and Weymouth, give cause for optimism: 70% of areas covered saw reductions in serious violence, and 67% saw a reduction in antisocial behaviour. This model is now being expanded across the county.
Police & Crime Commissioner David Sidwick has reinforced the message, describing neighbourhood policing as being at the heart of Dorset's approach and committing to continued lobbying for fair long-term funding. The stated aim is for Dorset Police to be more "visible and connected" to the communities it serves, and investment now in place is designed to make that a reality.
Your role matters
Whether it's an untaxed vehicle, a pattern of antisocial behaviour, or something that simply doesn't feel right, your reports help. Poundbury is a very low-crime area, but that doesn't happen by accident—it reflects an engaged community that pays attention. Please report what you see, and encourage your neighbours to do the same.
Get involved: Local Neighbourhood Watch
Neighbourhood Watch is one of the most effective community-led tools for crime prevention, and Poundbury has an active local network. If you'd like to get involved or raise a concern, the local contacts are:
Councillor David Leaper: profdavidleaper@doctors.org.uk
John (NHW Poundbury): nhwpoundbury@gmail.com
Have your say on the future of policing in Dorset
Dorset's Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick, has launched a public survey as part of the Government's ongoing review of police force structures across England and Wales. The survey is open to residents, businesses and community organisations, and gives local people the chance to share their views before any decisions are made about the future shape of policing in Dorset. The public survey is now open and can be completed online here. FAQs on police reform can be read here.
Your questions help shape our community
Have a question about life in Poundbury? Email us at info@lovepoundbury.org and it could feature at the next General Meeting on October 7.
This answer has been added to the FAQ section of our website, which includes many other questions and answers as well.
Thank you to Mayor Les Fry and PCSO Jane Goodwin for fact-checking this article.