Dorset Police

Dorset Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Dorset in South West England, which includes the largely rural area covered by Dorset Council, and the urban conurbation of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
The force covers an area of with a population of 774,000.

History

Dorset County Constabulary was formed in 1856. In 1965, it had an establishment of 544 and an actual strength of 466. On 1 October 1967, it merged with Bournemouth Borough Police to form Dorset and Bournemouth Constabulary.
On 1 April 1974, this force took over some areas from Hampshire Constabulary and acquired its present name of Dorset Police.

Chief constables

Dorset Constabulary

19241955 Peel Yates
19551962 Ronald Berry Greenwood
19621967 Arthur Hambleton
Dorset and Bournemouth Constabulary
19671974 Arthur Hambleton
Dorset Police
19741980 Arthur Hambleton
19811982 David Owen
1982 1995 Brian Weight
19951998 D. W. Aldous
19992004 Jane Stichbury
20052012 Martin Baker
20122018 Debbie Simpson
20182021 James Vaughan
2021–2023 Scott Chilton
2023present Amanda Pearson

Chief Constable Amanda Pearson, started her role on 1 March 2023, after her predecessor Scott Chilton moved to the same role in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. She is the third female chief constable of Dorset Police, after Jane Stichbury and Debbie Simpson. Pearson started her policing career in 1993 and has worked at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, Hertfordshire Constabulary, the City of London Police and Thames Valley Police, before joining the Metropolitan Police, where she worked as a Chief Officer. Whilst here, Pearson was the spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police's tactic of officers being able to knock moped thieves off their bikes. Pearson was also the programme lead for the Police Plan of Action on Inclusion and Race, a role in which in 2021, she stated that she had 'never seen' an officer being racist, whilst she was working in the Metropolitan Police.

Governance

Dorset Police was formerly responsible to the Dorset Police Authority, which was replaced in 2012 by the elected Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner. The first PCC was independent Martyn Underhill, who served between 22 November 2012 and 12 May 2021., the PCC is David Sidwick, who represents the Conservative Party.

Police area and other forces

The force covers an area of with a population of 774,000, which increases in the tourist season. In 2022, Dorset Police received 121,798 emergency calls on 999.
In 2023, Dorset Police:

Received 323,000 contacts from 999, 101, online and in person
Attended 57,489 incidents
Made 8,500 arrests
Located 4,392 missing people

Officers in Dorset have legal jurisdiction throughout all of England and Wales, including areas that have their own special police forces, as do all police officers of territorial police forces. Officers also have limited powers in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Other police services work alongside Dorset Police in the county. This includes the British Transport Police, who are responsible for policing of the rail network in Great Britain. Their office for Dorset is at Bournemouth railway station.
Port of Portland Police is a non-Home Office ports police force within Dorset that is responsible for the Port of Portland. In July 2020, the Port Police agreed a memorandum of understanding with Dorset Police to involve the sharing of assets, improving communication and allowing the collation of information.

Operations

Air Operations Unit

Since 2014, air support has been provided by National Police Air Service. Its nearest helicopter is based at Bournemouth Airport and also supports nearby police forces.

Criminal Investigation Department

Criminal Investigation Department provides advice to all policing units on crime-related matters and maintaining a corporate approach to reducing crime, as well as providing specialist and investigative roles. CID is split into numerous sub-departments, which include: Child Protect Investigation, Intelligence Directorate, Scientific Support.

Dog Section

The Dog Section was established in 1953; the unit is based in Eastern Division HQ in Ferndown. The unit comprises one inspector, one sergeant, 13 constables and 22 dogs, including general purpose German Shepherds and more specialist breeds.

Marine Policing Unit

The Marine Unit is responsible for policing the 89 miles of Dorset's coastline and up to 12 miles out to sea. The area is one of the busiest coastal areas in the UK, including two of the busiest ports, numerous shipping lanes, thousands of private moorings, the RNLI's busiest callout area and a training centre for the Royal Marines.

Ports Policing Unit

The Ports Policing Unit is responsible for policing all ports in Dorset including Poole Harbour, Swanage Harbour, Portland Harbour, Weymouth Harbour, Christchurch Harbour and Bournemouth Airport.

Roads Policing Unit

The force is responsible for policing road across the county. There are no motorways located within Dorset. Dorset Police have around 450 vehicles, from 20 different manufacturers, and drive a total of 7.5million miles a year. The Roads Policing Unit also features the No Excuse Team, launched in 2010, which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Dorset roads;
and the Interceptor Team, launched in 2023, which targets criminals using the road network within Dorset.

Tactical Firearms Unit

The Tactical Firearms Unit responds to major and serious crimes where firearms are involved.

Locations

The force headquarters is at Winfrith. Police stations open to the public are located at Blandford, Bournemouth Central, Bridport, Gillingham, Poole, Sherborne, Swanage and Weymouth.
Stations without a public front desk are Boscombe, Dorchester, Ferndown, Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton, Verwood, Wareham, Wimborne and Winton.
There are two custody suites at Bournemouth Central and Weymouth Police station.
In September 2017, the Christchurch Neighbourhood Policing Team moved to the fire station on Fairmile, further advancing the relationship with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Station	Public front desk	Custody suite	Notes
Blandford	✓		The front desk to the police station reopened on 27 March 2023
Boscombe			Closed in 2012, then again in 2016, the station reopened in October 2023 as an 'operational base' for officers
Boscombe Hub			Opened in late 2015 to station officers from the Boscombe Neighbourhood Policing Team
Bournemouth	✓	✓	Opened in late 2010, the station and cells moved from the old site on the opposite side of the road, which closed in 2011
Beaminster			Beaminster Neighbourhood Policing Team, moved out of the station and into the community fire station in May 2016.
Bridport	✓
Christchurch			The original Christchurch police station closed to the public on 1 March 2015 due to 'budget cuts'. The station closed fully in September 2017. Since that time, officers from Christchurch's Neighbourhood Policing Team are based in an office situated below Christchurch Fire Station.
Dorchester			The original buildings of the station date to 1861. The front desk closed on 1 March 2015 due to 'budget cuts'.
Ferndown			In 2015, in a bid to save £700,000, Dorset Police attempted to sell Ferndown Police Station. The site was listed for £6million, however, as of 2024, it has not been sold. The station, alongside Weymouth, it also is home to the Dog Section.
Gillingham	✓
Highcliffe			Closed in 2011, replaced by residential housing.
Lyme Regis	✓		Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the front desk to the police station reopened on 30 May 2023
Poole	✓	✓*	After the station at the Civic Centre closed in 2009, the current station opened on 17 December 2009.*Whilst there is a custody suite, this closed in the summer of 2011, as part of cost-cutting measures. The cells are kept in a permanent state of readiness for times when there is high demand. Poole custody is used when Bournemouth custody undergoes a deep clean at the end of each year. Another police station in the Gravel Hill area of Poole closed in October 2012.
Shaftesbury			The front desk closed on 1 March 2015 due to 'budget cuts'.
Sherborne	✓
Sturminster Newton
Swanage	✓		Opened in 1899, the station closed to the public in 2012. The front desk reopened in August 2023.
Verwood			In an attempt to save £500,000, Verwood's front desk was closed in summer 2014.
Wareham			The front desk closed on 1 March 2015 due to 'budget cuts'.
Weymouth	✓	✓	The station, alongside Ferndown, is also home to the Dog Section.
Weymouth East
Wimborne			In an attempt to save £500,000, Wimborne's front desk was closed in summer 2014.
Winton			The front desk closed on 1 March 2015 due to 'budget cuts'.

Ranks

Dorset Police uses the standard British police ranks, indicated by epaulettes, up to chief constable. Special constable's collar numbers begin with either the number '3' or '4' and consist of four numbers.