Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 24^th July 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 24^th July 2025 were confirmed and signed.   

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

Representatives of town or parish councils and members of the public who live, work, or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area are welcome to submit either one question or one statement for each meeting.  You are welcome to attend the meeting in person or via MS Teams to read out your question and to receive the response.   If you submit a statement for the committee this will be circulated to all members of the committee in advance of the meeting as a supplement to the agenda and appended to the minutes for the formal record but will not be read out at the meeting.

The first eight questions and the first eight statements received from members of the public or organisations for each meeting will be accepted on a first come first served basis in accordance with the deadline set out below.  For further information please see Public Participation - Dorset Council  

All submissions must be emailed in full to [email protected] by 8.30am on Tuesday 7^th October 2025.

When submitting your question or statement please note that:  

- You can submit one question or one statement.

- A question may include a short pre-amble to set the context.  

- It must be a single question and any sub-divided questions will not be permitted. 

- Each question will consist of no more than 450 words, and you will be given up to three minutes to present your question.  

- When submitting a question please indicate who the question is for (e.g. the name of the committee or Portfolio Holder)  

- Include your name, address, and contact details.  Only your name will be published but we may need your other details to contact you about your question or statement in advance of the meeting.  

- Questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

- All questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.  

Dorset Council Constitution - Procedure Rule 9

Councillor Questions

Councillors can submit up to two valid questions at each meeting and sub divided questions count towards this total. Questions and statements received will be published as a supplement to the agenda and all questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.

The submissions must be emailed in full to [email protected] by 8.30am on Tuesday 7^th October 2025.

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

There was no public participation.

To receive the Q1 Monitoring Report 2025/26.

The PCC reported on progress against the six priorities outlined in the Police and Crime Plan. Crime levels remained low, continuing a positive trend. Hotspot policing initiatives in Bournemouth and Weymouth had proven effective, with notable reductions in violence and increased visibility through targeted patrol hours. A specific operation on the B317 Coast Road led to a number of speeding drivers being apprehended, reflecting effective road policing. Addressing dwelling burglaries remained challenging. Police cadets had been involved in visibility efforts, and resources were balanced carefully to meet demands. 

 
999 response times had improved. Extra funding allowed the recruitment of more officers by year-end, although Dorset remained one of the lowest-funded forces nationally. The PCC expressed gratitude but urged for further improvement. 
Community Contact Points were launched to enhance public engagement, supported by a newly formed Engagement Board. Concerns remained around 101 response times, particularly in secondary call handling. Improvements were underway. 
 

Efforts to combat violent crime and high harm included focus on gateway drugs, support for knife crime reduction, and targeted interventions for at-risk 18-year-olds. While Dorset lacked a formal Violence Reduction Unit, work was underway to replicate its benefits. 

 
Rural crime had decreased. Operation Galileo continued to safeguard county borders. Dorset Police led regional rural policing meetings and enhanced collaboration. Fly-tipping enforcement was boosted by the appointment of a dedicated Fly-Tipping Investigator, enabling more vehicle seizures and increased fines. Successes were noted in tackling agricultural crime and organised rural theft. 

Focus areas included a victim-led restorative justice service. Ongoing support for victims, including a Victims Champion post. A Youth Participation Strategy was launched, aiming to keep young people safe and engaged in education. 

 
Dorset remained the second worst-funded force nationally. The PCC reiterated efforts to raise this issue with government and key stakeholders. Budget reprioritisation was underway, aiming to ensure the force could continue to deliver on its commitments despite financial pressures. 

Questions from the Priority leads and Panel Members for Priority one – Cut Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour (00:17:08) on the recording 

• Cllr Trent raised concerns about rising serious casualty figures despite a fall in fatal injuries. A change in reporting standards was noted as a possible cause. 

• In response to questions from Cllr Woode, it was clarified that performance trends were only reset after three consecutive improving quarters. 

• Cllr Keddie suggested further inquiry into casualty data trends for inclusion in future workplans. 

Questions from the Priority Leads and Panel members for Priority two – Make Policing More Visible and Connected (00:26:32) on the recording.  

• Cllr Bown expressed dissatisfaction with 101 response times and asked for insight into what change could reduce figures. The PCC cited staffing, training, and seasonal surges as key challenges. Recruitment, retention, and a bid for funding to upgrade systems were in progress. 

• Cllr Rampton questioned Dorset’s comparative performance; the PCC confirmed there were no national statistics but aimed to reduce 101 waiting times to under 10 minutes by 2027. 

• It was noted that seasonality had a significant impact on service delivery, particularly in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

To receive an update on Operation Snap.

The PCC reported on the continued development and impact of Operation Snap, a community-driven initiative which allowed residents to submit photographic or video evidence of careless or reckless driving. Managed by the Dorset Road Safe partnership, the initiative aimed to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the county’s roads by enabling public involvement in road safety enforcement. 

Since its launch in 2020, Operation Snap had processed 647 submissions in its first year, with numbers increasing significantly to over 2,000 submissions in 2024. This growth was attributed to increased public awareness and the wider use of dashcams and helmet cameras. As a result, enforcement outcomes had improved, with over 3,000 road users facing consequences to date. The PCC noted that the initiative empowered communities to take an active role in policing and contributed meaningfully to improving road safety. 

However, challenges remained, particularly around the processing of submissions. The initiative currently lacked a dedicated team, and the responsibility fell to staff from the ticket office and driver awareness teams. High volumes of evidence could not always be processed efficiently, due to financial and staffing constraints. The PCC confirmed that AI solutions were being explored to improve capacity and turnaround times. Despite these limitations, Operation Snap continued to be a valuable and growing resource, supporting ongoing efforts to reduce road harm across Dorset. 

Cllr Gibson queried whether parking offences fell within the remit of Operation Snap. Cllr Trent suggested that greater focus should be placed on the outcomes of driver awareness courses, although it was noted that income from the scheme could not be ring-fenced for this purpose. Further concerns were raised regarding the increasing volume of submissions, potential backlogs, and the absence of formal service-level agreements. 

Cllr Rampton questioned how outcomes from the initiative were being measured. In response, the PCC stated that Dorset remained one of the safest counties in the country and that the initiative contributed to this standing. It was also confirmed that integration of Operation Snap data with broader intelligence systems was under active consideration 

In accordance with Procedural Rule 8.1 the committee voted to extend the duration of the meeting.  

To receive an update on the Enhanced Video Response (EVR) programme.

The PCC presented positive results from the rollout of Enhanced Video Response, allowing video-based victim support and evidence collection which offered faster (19 days quicker) and more satisfactory service (83% satisfaction vs. 60% for traditional response). The PCC acknowledged that it wasn’t suitable for missing persons or road traffic incidents but acknowledged that it helped officers maintain wellbeing and achieve a better work-life balance as well as provided higher job satisfaction. Cost, infrastructure, and public awareness remained key challenges, however, EVR delivered faster responses and had cost saving benefits.  

Strong support for the EVR programme was expressed by the panel. While concerns were raised regarding rural connectivity and the potential impact on service delivery, no specific issues had been reported to date. The PCC confirmed that the increased efficiency in officer time made possible through EVR could positively contribute to broader goals around officer visibility and public reassurance.  

To receive a verbal update from the Service Manager for Assurance.

The Panel was informed of two complaints. The first complaint had been investigated, was not upheld, and no further action was required. A second complaint had only recently been received and had been passed to the Monitoring Officer for consideration. 

A new membership for the Complaints subcommittee had not yet been actioned but was being considered a priority.  

To discuss the Forward Workplan.

The forward workplan was noted.  

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.  

There are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.  

There was no exempt business.