Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 5^th February 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 5^th February 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 22^nd July 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 22^nd July 2025.

Dorset Council Constitution – Procedure Rule 13

Questions had been received from Mr Joe Salmon and Ms Susan Stockwell.

In response to Mr Salmon, it was confirmed that the caravans were no longer present. The legislation surrounding this matter was noted as complex, although a robust policy was in place. It was explained that a misunderstanding of the policy by an officer new in post had resulted in a delay in action; the policy had since been re‑communicated, and more regular reporting was now taking place. A further briefing for all relevant officers was scheduled for the start of the next year. The issue had been raised by a resident and confirmed with the local authority, after which a formal letter had been sent to the Chief Constable. The caravans were subsequently removed, and the press approached the force shortly afterwards. It was noted that, had the force been notified earlier, action would have been taken sooner, and the Chief Constable’s assurance on the matter would be relayed. The Panel also noted the difference in transit sites between Dorset and BCP.

In response to Ms Stockwell, it was confirmed that the licensing of venues was a matter for the local authority and not for the Police and Crime Panel.

No further questions or petitions had been received.

To elect a Chair and Vice Chair of the Police and Crime Panel Committee.

The Panel formally thanked Dr Elizabeth Mytton for her contribution and service to the Panel as she stepped down from her role. Members acknowledged that Dr Mytton had been an asset to the Panel and extended their best wishes for her future endeavours.

It was proposed by Councillor Louise Bown and seconded by Councillor Louie O’Leary that Councillor Alasdair Keddie be appointed Chair of the Police and Crime Panel.

It was proposed by Councillor Trent and seconded by Councillor Louie O’Leary that Councillor Louise Bown be appointed Vice-Chair of the Police and Crime Panel.

Decision: that Cllr Alasdair Keddie and Cllr Louise Bown was appointed as chair and Vice Chair of the Police and Crime Panel.

To receive the Q4 Monitoring Report 2024/25.

The Panel received an update from the Police and Crime Commissioner on the HIMCFRS PEEL Report, which highlighted three key areas of improvement and reflected overall progress. It was acknowledged that Dorset Police understood the challenges they faced and had a clear vision for addressing them, with several elements considered good practice. A particularly high percentage of 999 calls were answered within ten seconds, consistently exceeding targets.

In relation to responding to the public, improvements to 999 answering times were noted, while the non-emergency response remained an area requiring further development. The Force was taking steps to optimise this service. In the area of investigating crime, there was a clear focus on victim outcomes, supported by the national investigative framework and continuous professional development for officers. Improvements had been made to digital capabilities, including enhanced mobile systems, and work was being aligned with strategic priorities and targeted governance. Victim engagement remained central to this work, and projections indicated that a fully trained and advanced cohort of officers was expected by March 2028.

Regarding stop and search, the Panel was informed that use of the power was now more effectively targeted, but that Dorset Police still needed to improve to no longer be an outlier at the national level. Disparities in stop and search continued to be reviewed on a quarterly basis, with strong scrutiny arrangements in place, including the Force’s own scrutiny panel. The use of body-worn video was identified as an important tool in promoting organisational learning.

Questions from Panel Members – 00:52:08 on the recording

• Commented that the update was a positive sign.
• Queried whether the proposed Contact Management system improvements involved adding new systems or replacing existing ones, noting that the control room currently managed multiple systems, and asked whether the systems would run concurrently.
• requested whether a document outlining the structured system could be published to provide clarity on the plan and its impact and asked if there was a timeline for implementation.
• Asked whether, prior to going out to market, Dorset Police had reviewed systems used by other police forces nationally.
• Raised a query regarding video submissions and aspects of digital evidence management, noted for the forward plan, and requested figures on the current number of detectives compared to the projected number in March 2028.

Priority one - Cut Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour - 01:08:15 on the recording

The Panel was informed that total crime and antisocial behaviour continued to decline, with antisocial behaviour reducing by 12% over the past year. The Op Relentless Community Fund was highlighted as a success in supporting local initiatives, including funding for the DocBike motorcyclist safety project. Burglary rates remained stable, with preventative measures introduced through home safety leaflets distributed via estate agents. Figures for serious road injuries were also falling, though it was noted that stigma around drug driving had not yet matched that of drink driving. An improved online theft information pack and a quarterly fraud and cybercrime newsletter had been introduced to raise awareness, acknowledging that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

To update members on the Police and Crime Commissioner's Annual Report 2024/25.

• Commended the quality of the report and acknowledged the significant work undertaken in its preparation.

NOTED.

To receive a report regarding enhancing community safety.

Cllr A Keddie commended the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for producing an in‑depth and well‑referenced report. He raised concerns about the lack of clarity between recorded data and the lived experiences of women and girls, noting that the paper highlighted these challenges. He also queried whether there would be a new round of Safer Streets funding.

The Police and Crime Commissioner advised that, to his knowledge, the Home Office had not committed to the continuation of the Safer Streets initiative. At that point in time, it was not known whether the scheme would be replaced, and this was described as a significant concern. He confirmed that he would continue to press central government for additional funding.

Cllr A Keddie further observed that local authorities were also under significant financial pressure. The Panel expressed its support for the reinstatement of the Safer Streets initiative and disappointment that the scheme had not continued, agreeing to support calls for its return.

The Commissioner confirmed that work continued with partners to bring together different groups. He highlighted a recent conference for professionals where a wide range of topics had been discussed, with representation from various organisations. It was noted that a scrutiny panel was also in place to review public consultation. The Commissioner acknowledged the financial challenges faced by partners and emphasised the importance of maintaining pressure on government to prioritise public safety, stating that efforts were ongoing to ensure the safety of women and young girls

To receive a report by the Director of Operations.

It was noted that efforts were being made to remove barriers for the public when engaging with police services. The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) emphasised the importance of going out into communities and spending time with the force. He highlighted the use of surveys and direct engagement with residents to gauge public sentiment, while also questioning whether the timing of surveys during periods of high summer demand provided a representative picture. He acknowledged that there were insufficient officers in the force and confirmed that performance was measured both through formal surveys and direct questioning.

The Panel welcomed the community engagement work but queried the visibility of the Chief Constable and how she was held accountable. The PCC confirmed that multiple scrutiny boards reviewed matters such as health and wellbeing and that he met with the Chief Constable on a weekly basis. He explained that leadership had been a key focus of discussions and that the Chief Constable was recognised for leading visibly from the front. He also highlighted ongoing work around officer wellbeing and trauma support, including occupational health provision, and stressed the need for NHS support for officers struggling with injuries or mental health issues, noting that these services were themselves underfunded.

The Panel noted that 211 officers in Dorset had been signed off due to stress and trauma and raised concerns about the disproportional impact of the working environment. It was suggested that these issues could not be fast-tracked through NHS services and that exposure to traumatic incidents was causing significant harm. The PCC referenced the TRIM trauma assessment process detailed in the report, noting improvements in identifying and supporting affected officers. He reiterated the importance of ensuring officers felt valued and acknowledged that significant savings had been required within Dorset Police, which continued to place pressure on wellbeing initiatives.

Concerns were raised about the national context, noting that Dorset’s situation was only fractionally worse than the national average but that the average itself remained high. Questions were posed about the measures being taken at a national level to address these issues and the potential impact on recruitment and retention, including the risk of officers seeking employment elsewhere.

The PCC reflected that many forces across the country faced similar challenges and that negative media coverage frequently undermined policing efforts. He highlighted Operation Scorpion as an example of strong local support and emphasised that, despite being underfunded, Dorset Police continued to attract interest and commitment from staff. He stressed the importance of valuing officers who went above and beyond and called for greater appreciation from the press and central government.

NOTED.

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.

It was noted that the composition of the Complaints Sub‑Committee Panel would be determined outside of the formal meeting.

To discuss the Forward Workplan.

The next steps were identified, and it was agreed that these would be deliberated outside of the formal meeting.

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.