Minutes of the Dorset Communtiy Safety Partnership - 25 March 2026

Attendance 

Apologies 

• Paula Golding (Children's Services)
• Sunita Khattra-Hall (Children's Services)
• Megan Cameron Brown (Children's Services)
• Bradley Stevens (Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service)
• Julia Ingram (Adult Services)

Item

No 1. Election of Vice Chair

1.1 Chief Superintedent Stewart Gates was elected Vice Chair. 

No 2. Minutes of Meeting held on 15 December and Matters Arising 

2.1 Dangerous dogs. Ian Denness updated the group on his findings on crimes featuring out of control dogs recorded by the police. In addition to the number of recorded dog attacks increasing by 64% between 2024 and 2026, the proportion of those attacks identified as involving an animal as a weapon had also risen (from 26% of all attacks in 2024 to 62% in 2025). Stewart Gates informed the group that Dorset Police had recently appointed a dedicated dangerous dogs officer and it may be that the recent surge in recorded attacks reflected her taking up of new duties. It was agreed to keep sighted on the issue, but solely from the perspective of its impact on local violent crime.

2.2 All other actions were either complete or on the agenda. 

No 3. Performance and Delivery Report Update

3.1 Ian Denness summarised key points from the circulated performance report, including:

• the recent reduction in the proportion of domestic abuse victims who were ‘repeat’ victims was also mirrored – for the first time since the Covid pandemic – in a (small) fall in the total number of individual domestic abuse victims in the county
• a similar trend was noted in the proportion and number of repeat perpetrators of domestic abuse. It was agreed that further work would be carried out to assess whether partners work to tackle offending is having an impact, including complimentary evidence

Action - Strategic Delivery Group

• annual antisocial behaviour reports – both to the police and to the Council – had risen over the past twelve months, the first rise in reports to the police since 2020/21. Stewart Gates queried the increase and it was agreed to look into the detail of the statistics outside the meeting

Action - Ian Denness / Stewart Gates

• after a short period of consistence, the volume of rural crime reports had started to increase
• the volume of reported serious violent crimes, and associated repeat suspects and victims, were each currently at their lowest for five years
• the volume of local knife crime continued to decline

No 4. Partnership Strategic Assessment and Community Safety Plan 2026-29 

4.1 Ian Denness highlighted some of the main findings reported in the latest Partnership Strategic Assessment. These included:

• crime in Dorset was at its lowest level for eight years
• the consultation data included was becoming dated and would be updated in advance of next year’s assessment
• the recommended priority areas were:

1. Domestic abuse and stalking
2. Sexual offences
3. Antisocial behaviour
4. Rural crime
5. Violent crime

• the following cross cutting themes were also recommended:

1. Mental Health
2. Substance Misuse 
3. Complex Cases
4. Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
5. Hate Crime

4.2 There was a discussion on the introduction of new Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment (DARA) model and its potential impact on levels of reported Domestic Abuse. Stewart Gates agreed to share the national evidence base underpinning the introduction of Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment (DARA). It was also agreed that Ian and Stewart would follow up outside the meeting to explore the potential implications for local data.

Action - Stewart Gates / Ian Denness

4.3 Andy presented the new three year Community Safety Plan for 2026-2029, which set out the partnership’s priorities and high level activity in response to issues.

4.4 Members of the group agreed the Community Safety Plan 2026-2029.

No 5. Strategic Delivery Group Update

5.1 Andy Frost provided an update on partners’ work to address strategic issues following implementation of new structures and the establishment of the Strategic Delivery Group. The first meeting of the Group was held in January, and it was agreed that Andy Frost (Dorset Council) would be the Chair.

5.2 Key points from the first meeting included:

• consideration of the initial findings from the latest partnership strategic assessment and development of the 2026-29 Community Safety Plan
• assessment of the latest position in relation to the Serious Violence Duty
• agreement to oversee the Community Safety Partnership’s Communication Plan
• agreement to share resources more evenly across the partnership to ensure Hight Risk Domestic Abuse (HRDA) remains sustainable and fit for purpose

5.3 The group discussed the importance of Hight Risk Domestic Abuse (HRDA), with partners reiterating their continued commitment to its delivery. It was acknowledged that resources should be shared equitably across the partnership. Stewart Gates thanked the group for their ongoing support, and Andy agreed to confirm the revised arrangements at the next Community Safety Partnership meeting.

Action - Andy Frost

No 6. Partnership Coordinating Group Update

6.1 John Newcombe ran through partners’ work to tackle local priorities, through the new Partnership Co-ordinating Group (PCG). Headlines included:

• MAPs (Multi-Agency Problem Solving groups) were now in place across the county. These report to the Partnership Co-ordinating Group
• partners considered the Partnership Co-ordinating Group's performance framework, with a view to including data and intelligence from across the wider partnership
• the group considered the announcement of the Crime and Policing Bill, and its impact on Closure Orders
• the group considered the Anti Social Behaviour Reduction Strategy, which will include an obligation to report annually to the Home Office. This aligns to the Dorset Police Anti Social Behaviour Action Plan to ensure consistency
• there was also a summary of the local issues being considered and responded to across the Multi-Agency Problem Solving groups

No 7. Serious Violence Duty Update

7.1 Di Evans provided an update on partners’ response to the Serious Violence Duty.

7.2 The Home Office has confirmed funding for the Serious Violence Reduction Programme (SVRP) for 2026/2027. This forms part of a wider three year funding approach alongside activity delivered through Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) and areas supported by Youth Futures Panels.

7.3 Funding for 2026/2027 will remain at the same level for Dorset as in previous years, although allocations for years two and three have yet to be confirmed.

7.4 The Home Office has recently published new guidance outlining changes and the resulting requirements on specified and relevant authorities to deliver a whole system approach to tackling serious violence at a local level. This guidance complements the Serious Violence Duty Statutory Guidance and clarifies the role of partnerships in supporting delivery of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission, including commitments to halve knife crime and halve Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) within a decade.

7.5 As a result, and for the purposes of the 2026/2027 grant, Serious Violence Reduction Programme (SVRP) funding has been refocused on early intervention and prevention activity linked specifically to reducing knife crime.

7.6 Di noted that, following confirmation of the funding, a task and finish group was established to develop proposals aligned with the 2026/2027 funding criteria. In total, five proposals were received, of which three were agreed for progression:

• Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service (DCYJS) – Early intervention with young people identified in possession of a knife, bridging the gap between arrest and offence outcome
• 100 & First – Level Up project, delivered in a new location
• Dorset Police (DP) & Targeted Youth Service (TYS)– Targeted socio-education programme (weapons crime) and social prescribing

7.7 Di advised that a fourth proposal, relating to the NHS Specialist Nurse (Children in Care), will also continue to be funded through interim arrangements, ahead of plans for the role to be mainstreamed from April 2027.

7.8 A fifth proposal, relating to the continuation of the Healthy Relationships and Mentors in Violence Prevention Programme, did not meet the funding criteria sufficiently to be supported through this funding stream. While the group recognised the value of the work delivered and the achievements of the programme to date, it was not possible to prioritise it for SVRP funding.

7.9 Di provided a broader update on activity undertaken both prior to the confirmation of the new funding and since the Serious Violence Duty came into effect, outlining progress made to date.

7.10 The agreed Serious Violence Duty Delivery Plan will be finalised and submitted to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) in time for onward submission to the Home Office by 24 March 2026. It is anticipated that the Home Office will confirm approval, or otherwise, by the end of April 2026.

7.11 Di said a copy of the new Government strategy and funding details would be shared with partners who want one.

7.12 Partners acknowledged the significant amount of work undertaken in response to the release of the latest funding, particularly given the tight timescales, and thanked all those involved for their efforts.

No 8. Domestic Homicide Reviews

8.1 Di Evans provided an update on the current status of Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs).

8.2 Delays within the Home Office and the Quality Assurance Panel persist; however, assurance has been given that additional resources have been deployed to address the backlog, and that feedback to local DHRs should be forthcoming shortly.

8.3 The Community Safety Partnership currently had two reviews in progress, one involved a suicide, the other was pended. Early learning had already commenced in relation to both reviews.

8.4 The group discussed areas of local learning that may require a national response, particularly in light of the Government’s recent offer to support local areas with the implementation of national actions. The importance of aligning with this work where appropriate was acknowledged.

8.5 New Statutory Guidance for Domestic Homicide Reviews's has yet to be published by the Home Office. It was agreed that, in the interim, work should continue in accordance with the current guidance until the revised version is issued.

Action - Diane Evans

8.6 Members recognised the significant effort involved in co ordinating and completing Domestic Homicide Reviews's and thanked Di for her continued work and commitment.

No 9. Forward Plan

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

No 10. Any Other Business

10.1  Molly Rennie updated the group on the work of the Dorset Domestic Abuse Forum (DDAF), particularly the initiative to set up a group for those with Lived Experience.  

Future Meeting Dates

• 10am, 18th June 2026
• 10am, 10th September 2026
• 10am, 10th December 2026
• 10am, 18th March 2027