As a candidate I asked the people of Dorset what the issues where they lived and they were clear that anti-social behaviour (ASB) was top of their list. This is what a PCC should do - represent the people above all else.
In West Hill - the community champion Simon Grimston made me aware of the issue in June 2019. I then started attending residents meetings and later neighbourhood watch meetings. I was horrified when residents told me that they were nearly too afraid to attend the meetings as drug dealers had openly told them that "We own these streets and the police don't care". Mr G wasn't having any of it and quite frankly nor was I. I have been supportive of Simon and the people's actions to get crime and ASB down ever since.
As a candidate there is a limit to what can be done but I made sure that it was on everyone's agenda - I spoke to senior police officers, the local inspector and the councillors and supported Simon in his endeavours.
Once I became PCC in May 2021 - in the first week I challenged the force on what they would do about this. They agreed to deliver Operation Relentless so every Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) has tackling ASB as a priority. My new Police and Crime Plan has cutting crime and ASB as part of its core and this has changed the force vision to be tough on crime, put victims first and keep people safe.
Recently we bid for Safer Streets funding which delivered more CCTV cameras in West Hill.
I was in West Hill recently and residents said to me that it had improved and they saw more police about but it is a testament to Simon and the people of West Hill above all others - through perseverance a close relationship between the community, businesses, councillors, council officers and police was formed. That is a huge factor for success but it also needed the police to have a priority for cutting crime and ASB which I delivered with a focus on addressing the causes of those issues.
This same priority has been focused across Dorset and of the 12 police sections - all have seen a reduction in ASB with a total of 25 across the county. It is meaningless if it occurs outside your front door so that is why as your PCC I will promise to continue with Operation Relentless