Minutes of the Dorset Community Safety Partnership - 15 December 2025

Attendance 

Apologies

• Katie Sorrell (Probation Service)
• Julie Howe (Dorset Police)
• Lewis Gool (Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner) 
• Paula Golding (Children's Services) 

Item

No 1. Minutes of Meeting held on 16 June 2025 and Matters Arising 

1.1 All actions were either complete or on today’s agenda. 

No 2. Knife Crime

2.1 Richard Jeffrey provided an overview of the work being undertaken to tackle knife crime, including an overview of the strategic structure within the force and the strategy, which is pan Dorset in response the transient nature of knife crime. 

2.2 Richard outlined the delivery model, which incorporates deterrence measures, targeted engagement with young people through the FAKE initiative (Firearms and Knife Crime Education), hotspot patrols and the use of intelligence gathered from hospital submissions via Navigator workers.

2.3 Rachel Young highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen local intelligence to better support knife crime prevention. This work aimed to improve the identification of hotspot locations and individuals of concern, enabling the development of a more tailored local offer and expanding the range of interventions available, including Restorative Justice.

2.4 Cllr Gill Taylor asked what happens to those who choose not to engage with the local offer. Richard noted that ideally the person will engage with one of the initiatives, however, they do have the option of enforcement action, which can sometimes happen.

2.5 David Webb highlighted the new Home Office guidance for Knife Crime offences which is due to come out in the new year, and the potential move that any interventions need to be evidence based (as per the Youth Endowment Fund). David also provided an update on some of the other initiatives that the Youth Justice Service can provide to young people of concern.

2.6 Sunita Khattra-Hall asked how the police respond when wider safeguarding issues require additional support. Richard explained that the police Safeguarding Team includes specialist officers who work closely with Social Care and other partners to provide coordinated assistance.

2.7 Andy Frost asked whether intelligence gathered through the knife crime initiatives was being used to inform partners’ broader serious violence work, given the transient nature of knife crime. Richard confirmed that the initiative is integrated into wider serious violence work across both Dorset Council and BCP Council areas, with strong links between local policing and community safety partners.

2.8 Richard outlined next steps, including improving local data, deep dives into hotspot intelligence, campaign activity, and ongoing prevention and education work. He also highlighted a virtual reality education session on 20 January.

2.9 Graham Duggan highlighted the work from Trading Standards on test purchasing at retail premises and online, which was very much welcomed by Richard and the team. 

No 3. Performance and Delivery Report Update

3.1 Members of the group considered the latest performance information. Key points included:

• the proportion of repeat victims of domestic abuse was now at its lowest since 2020
• the volume of Anti Social Behaviour reported to the police has plateaued at a relatively low level after a significant fall in recent years
• fly tipping is at its lowest volume for several years
• reports of serious violence continue to decline slowly
• recorded knife crime levels continue to reduce
• reports of domestic abuse related stalking have increased by 84% since 2020
• the number of recorded sexual offences has also risen over recent years

3.2 The report identified some the local projects and developments that have contributed to positive results.

3.3 An emerging issue was identified in relation to an increase in local assaults involving dogs. Approximately, 1,100 such incidents had been reported in the past five years, with 300 alone occurring in the past twelve months. A short discussion followed on the subject. It was noted that dog on human attacks are recorded by the police, while dog on dog attacks are recorded by the council. Also, a differentiation was made between attacks where dogs were out of control and those where the animals were deliberately used as a weapon. It was agreed to research this further and report back to the next meeting.

Action - Ian Denness

3.4 Members of the group noted the work that has taken place over the past several months to develop and refine the performance report. Updates on activity had been added to the most recent performance trends, to allow partners to assess whether their actions were having an impact.  

3.5 The positive performance relating to repeat victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse was acknowledged. More work was required around stalking and this would be picked up by the Strategic Delivery Group. 

3.6 Members of the group discussed local instances of hate crime. Although hate crime was not a current Community Safety Partnership priority, it was decided to keep a watching brief on trends given the impact on individuals and communities. It was agreed that hate crime formed part of a wider picture and needed to be considered alongside broader work to address community cohesion.

Action - Ian Denness 

No 4. Community Safety Partnership Structures 

4.1 Community Safety Partnership members considered progress with the changes they agreed to make to the group’s structure at their October meeting.

4.2 The changes involved establishing a Strategic Delivery Group and changing current local working arrangements to have a Partnership Co-ordinating Group (PCG) and Multi-agency Problem Solving Groups (MAPS).

4.3 Some partners had yet to confirm their representative on the Strategic Delivery Group and this was required prior to the first meeting planned for early in the new year. Megan Cameron-Brown confirmed she would be the Children Services rep. 

4.4 The group’s initial tasks will include identifying funded activity relating to serious violence for 2026/27, delivering the Community Safety Partnership’s Communications Plan and working up delivery plans for 2026/27 based on the latest Partnership Strategic Assessment.

4.5 John Newcombe provided an update on the new locality structures. Terms of Reference had been written for the Partnership Co-ordinating Group and draft Terms of Reference had been written for the Multi-agency Problem Solving Groups. 

4.6 There would be a standing agenda for Multi-agency Problem Solving Group meetings to ensure consistency across areas. John advised that the meetings will be administered by Dorset Police and Dorset Council’s operational community safety service. The intention was to have the first Partnership Co-ordinating Group and Multi-agency Problem Solving Groups early in the New Year.

4.7 Claire Phillips requested support with tactical analysis to enhance their force data by incorporating partner intelligence, which would strengthen the work of the Partnership Co-ordinating Group.

Resolved 

• the Community Safety Partnership member role description and terms of reference for the Strategic Delivery Group and Partnership Coordinating Group were agreed.

No 5. Partnership Strategic Assessment (PSA) and Community Safety Plan 2026-29 

5.1 Ian Denness outlined the purpose of the Partnership Strategic Assessment (PSA) and its role in supporting the development of the three-year Community Safety Plan. 

5.2 The Partnership’s five existing priorities and cross cutting issues were reviewed in light of initial work undertaken on the Partnership Strategic Assessment. The group discussed potential new potential priorities but evidence indicated they were less pressing than those currently identified.

5.3 Partners agreed to retain their focus on existing priorities and cross cutting themes for the next twelve months whilst keeping a watching brief on emerging issues including theft.

5.4 Members of the group confirmed their support for retaining Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) as a cross-cutting theme. It was felt this approach enabled partners to address individual crimes, which often impacted a wider cohort, while ensuring that issues relating specifically to Violence Against Women and Girls remain addressed.

5.5 Megan Cameron Brown highlighted the importance of linking in with the local safeguarding boards given the similarities in priorities. 

5.6 The group considered work to review and update the Community Safety Plan for 2026-29. Community Safety Partnerships are required to have three year Plans that are refreshed annually based on the latest Partnership Strategic Assessment.

5.7 The new plan and latest PSA would be brought to the next Community Safety Partnership meeting in March for sign off. It was noted the plan would need to be formally adopted by the Council and will be subject to an Equality Impact Assessment. 

No 6. Domestic Homicide Reviews

6.1 Di Evans provided an update on the current status of Domestic Homicide Reviews (Domestic Homicide Reviews), covering those marked as complete, those currently with the Home Office Quality Assurance Panel, ongoing reviews, and cases that did not meet the Domestic Homicide Review criteria.

6.2 One Domestic Homicide Review had progressed to panel, and one had been paused pending Police investigation. It was noted that the revised Statutory Guidance for undertaking Domestic Homicide Reviews was yet to be published by the Home Office.

6.3 Members of the group recognised the significant effort involved in co-ordinating and completing these reviews and thanked Di for her work.

No 7. Forward Plan

7.1 The Forward Plan would be updated following today’s meeting.  

No 8. Any Other Business

8.1 Andrew Billany informed the group that he would be leaving Dorset Council at the end of the year. Andrew introduced Iain Sim who will be taking over as Corporate Director for Housing and Community Safety. 

8.2 Cllr Taylor and members of the group thanked Andrew for his work and support over the past five years and wished him the best of luck in his new role. 

Future Meeting Dates

• 10am, 25th March 2026 – In person – location to be confirmed