Police target anti-social behaviour in Blandford

POLICE action on anti-social behaviour in Blandford is being hailed as a success by North Dorset section commander Inspector Shawn Whitley.

Figures show that incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town centre were down 42 per cent from 1st April until 12th November compared with the same period last year.

Crime figures in Blandford were also down.

Inspector Whitley said: "Across the whole of north Dorset there were 117 fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour and that was down by 8.7 per cent.

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"And in Blandford old town there was a drop from 264 incidents to 153 in incidents of anti-social behaviour - that's down a massive 42 per cent.

"We don't have any more staff or resource. This is a case of using the local officers and the Safer Neighbourhood Team to target certain areas and combat the problem."

He added: "Anti-social behaviour includes shouting and yobbery that don't amount to crimes such as criminal damage."

Shaftesbury town centre was the only area that showed an increase. Inspector Whitley said police were working on ways to deal with the problem.

Crime figures for the same period were more than halved, dropping from 204 in 2011 to 94 this year - down 53 per cent.

They include incidents of violence against the person down from 59 to 29 and a drop in thefts from 53 to 27.

Inspector Whitley said: "I am very pleased with these figures.

"Residents wanted us to tackle anti-social behaviour and told us about it and officers acted on it while out on patrol.

"There had been a big increase with it in the summer of last year particularly with people shouting and screaming late at night. We responded to that and these figures show a huge decrease."

Dee Adcock