Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) - youth related nuisance

Location:
South Walks and Trinity Street

Issue:
Young people are gathering in groups and are becoming intimidating by their behaviour, causing worry to the local community

Planned action to tackle this issue:
- Targeted high-visibility patrols at key times and locations
- Partnership working with targeted youth workers
- Regular contact and engagement with local business and the Business Improvement District (BID)
- Monthly deployment of the Mobile Police Station (MPS) in the town centre
- Work with the local council Community Safety Team (CST) and their consequence scheme

Issued 01 October 2026

November update:
- There have been incidents of "Urban Exploring" (Urbexing) in the area, so we have worked with targeted youth workers and the council Community Safety Team to hand-deliver warning letters to the parents/carers of the children involved
- Officers have conducted over 1,050 minutes of targeted foot patrol in the town during October
- The Mobile Police Station was deployed at Cornhill on the 6th of October for two hours so people could speak directly with local officers
- We have a dedicated Halloween patrol plan to proactively target any Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) that may occur in the area

October update:
This issue remains a local priority for the team due to the harm it causes to the local community and a recent increase of graffiti in the area
- In the last month we have conducted 1,500 minutes of targeted foot patrol in the area
- A quantity of the graffiti has been removed by partner agencies
- We have conducted a review of the crimes in the area to target our resources and to take robust action where possible
- The Mobile Police Station was deployed at Cornhill on the 1st of September for two hours so people could speak directly with local officers

September update:
- The Mobile Police Station was deployed at Cornhill on the 4th of August for two hours so people could speak directly with local officers
- Officers have conducted over 1,300 minutes of targeted foot patrol in the area during August
- We continue to work alongside targeted youth workers
- Regular contact and engagement with local businesses and the BID

August update:
- Officers have conducted over 1,250 minutes of targeted foot patrol in the area during July
- The issue has now been prioritised with partners to ensure a joined up approach
- We have been working with alongside targeted youth workers
- The Mobile Police Station was deployed at Cornhill on the 7th of July for two hours so people could speak directly with local officers

Actioned 31 December 2026

Criminal damage and nuisance Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

Location:
River Walks

Issue:
Criminal damage to the boardwalk and reports of ASB causing concern to the local community

Planned action to tackle this issue:
- Targeted high-visibility patrols at key times
- Multi-agency problem solving with the local council Community Safety Team (CST)
- Intelligence gathering to identify and deter those involved
- Relevant updates being shared via social media and our Dorset Alert system to reassure local residents of the work we are doing

Issued 01 October 2026

November update:
- We have shared updates via social media, local press and our Dorset Alert system to reassure local residents of action we have taken
- Officers have conducted targeted high-visibility patrols at key times
- We continue to gather information and intelligence to identify and deter those involved

October update:
This issue remains a priority for the team due to the harm it causes to the wildlife in the area and to the local community
- Officers continue targeted high-visibility patrols at key times
- We continue to identify and disrupt those involved, taking robust action where evidence allows
- We have shared updates via social media and our Dorset Alert system to reassure local residents of action we have taken

September update:
- Although reported incidents have decreased, officers continue to conduct targeted high-visibility patrols at key times
- As a result of information and evidence provided by members of public, we have managed to secure clear footage of a group of young people who are suspected to be involved in an incident where wild birds were mindlessly targeted with catapults. We are making enquiries to identify all members of the group, so they can be dealt with appropriately.

August update:
- Officers have conducted targeted high-visibility patrols at key times
- The issue has been included in our Summer Patrol Plan
- We continue to gather information and intelligence to deter those involved
- We have shared updates via social media and our Dorset Alert system to reassure local residents of action we have taken
- There has been a notable decrease in reported incidents

Actioned 31 December 2026