Shoplifting

Location:
Verwood - Tesco Express

Issue:
Stores are being targeted for goods, leading to financial loses and concern from local residents.

Planned action to tackle this issue:
- We will work with the store on crime prevention
- We will conduct high visibility patrols,
- We will take robust action on offenders,
- We will collaborate with local partners on offenders,
- We will collaborate with the store on prevention and detection.

Issued 01 July 2026

September Update:
- Dorset Shoplifting Team continues to investigate reported theft offences from Tesco Express.
- Crime prevention advice provided to Tesco Express staff and management to help reduce opportunities for shoplifting.
- High-visibility patrols carried out in and around Tesco Express and Lidl, Verwood.
- Local officers identified offenders responsible for thefts from Tesco Express and issued banning letters.
- Proactive policing activity has continued to prevent and disrupt shoplifting offences across the area.
- Community Contact Point held at Tesco Express, with 21 residents signing up to Dorset Alert to receive local policing updates.
- Ongoing partnership working with local retailers to tackle retail crime and improve intelligence sharing.
- Community Contact Point planned at Morrisons on 5 September to discuss anti-social behaviour in the car park and ongoing shoplifting concerns.
- Residents are encouraged to report shoplifting and suspicious activity to help support police action and identify offenders.

August Update:
- Dorset Shoplifting Team investigating reported theft offences.
- Crime prevention advice provided to Tesco staff and management .
- High visibility patrols conducted in and around Tesco Express, Verwood.
- Local officers identified offenders and issued banning letters.
- Proactive policing has prevented and disrupted a number of shoplifting offences.
- Community Contact Point organised by the Neighbourhood Policing Team.

July Update:
The store continues to be targeted for goods, leading to financial loses and concern from local residents, therefore this priority has been reissued and work will continue to tackle the issue in the area over the upcoming summer months.

June Update:
- Repeat offender identified,
- Evidence gathered and investigation ongoing,
- Collaboration with partners is taking place, looking at longer term interventions,
- Reduction in reported offences.

Actioned 30 September 2026

ASB & Road Related Incidents

Location;
Various Locations across East Dorset Rural.

Issue:
We have received a number of reports of Anti-Social Behaviour and road safety concerns recently linked to horse drive events taking place in this part of the county.

Planned action to tackle this issue:
- We ask those involved in these events to please notify us in advance and work with us to ensure they are facilitated in a safe and responsible manner.
- We will continue to work with those involved and our partners to make them aware of the potential risks to other road users and how these can be mitigated, as well as make it clear that we will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour linked to these events. It also gives us an opportunity to engage with any residents and businesses that may be impacted in advance of the event.
- We will engage with local communities around concerns raised.

Issued 01 July 2026

September Update:
- Positive engagement with event organisers and stakeholders.
- Engagement on event day.
- Proactive policing and enforcement where necessary.
- Debrief with organisers to take place.

August Update:
- We are continuing to engage with organisers around plans for upcoming events, reinforcing road legislation and legal responsibilities for persons taking part. 

This is a new priority. An Update will be provided in August. We fully recognise the vast majority of those involved in these events are not intending to cause any disruption or issues for local communities, but we need to ensure that they do not cause any issues in terms of road safety and associated anti-social behaviour.

Actioned 30 September 2026