What is Community Safety ?

The 1998 Crime and Disorder Act imposed a duty on District Councils, County Councils and Police to work in partnership to tackle crime and disorder and community safety issues in the community through a co-ordinated and coherent approach. With the implementation of the Police Reform Act 2002 this statutory responsibility was also imposed on the Fire and Rescue Service, police and fire authorities and  Primary Care Trusts (health).

North Dorset District Council is a Partner in the Easten Dorset Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and works with a range of organisations including all these statutory authorities, Dorset County Council and the neighbouring  district councils of East Dorset, Purbeck and Christchurch

Each partnership is required to carry out an audit and write a three year Crime and Drugs Reduction Strategy containing relevant targets and objectives that will impact on the community to reduce crime and the fear of crime.  The Dorset Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy 2005-2008 addresses key local and national priorities through local and county targets.  The six key priorities of the strategy are:

• Reducing the fear of crime
• Tackling anti-social behaviour and criminal damage
• Tackling violent crime including alcohol related crime and domestic violence
• Tackling discrimination
• Reducing the harm caused by the misuse of drugs and alcohol
• Tackling domestic and commercial burglary, vehicle crime and theft