East Dorset Rural

Your Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) is a group of local police officers dedicated to serving your community. The team is made up of inspectors, sergeants, police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) based in your area, supported by additional officers from the wider area.

NPTs provide a visible and accessible policing presence, building strong relationships with residents, businesses and partner agencies. They work to identify and tackle local priorities such as anti-social behaviour, crime prevention and community safety concerns. By listening to the community and acting on what matters most, they help create safer, more connected neighbourhoods.

We work closely with local authorities, community leaders and residents to decide our policing priorities for the area. This helps us to find useful, long-term solutions to local problems, while maintaining our wider focus on reducing crime across Dorset.

Please find contact details for your Neighbourhood Policing Team provided below.

Please note that to report a crime or incident to Dorset Police, please visit Dorset Police or in an emergency, please dial 999.

East Dorset Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team

7853 Juliet Cox

Police Community Support Officer

2494 Paul Craig

Sergeant

1978 Adam Gill

Inspector

2931 Kev Miller

Police Constable

Local Priority Issues

Priority	Action taken
Poaching and associated offending Location: Sixpenny Handley Issue: Poaching activity has re-emerged within the area and is being accompanied by related offences, including the intimidation of farmers and landowners, criminal damage, and the use of catapults. This behaviour is having a significant impact on the rural community, causing concern, distress and fear of crime among those affected. Planned action to tackle this issue: - A seasonal winter plan has been activated to tackle winter rural offending. - Operation Ragwort is in place which sees regional forces come together to tackle organised rural crime. - Operational Galileo is also in effect to solely tackle poaching. - There is a use of proactive policing powers to maximise disruption, prevent offending and bring offenders to justice - Engage with all elements of the community with visible connected policing Issued 01 October 2026	October update: - This is a newly refreshed priority for the area and updates will follow Actioned 01 January 2027
Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Location; Various Locations across Verwood. Issue: While overall crime has reduced, reports of anti-social behaviour have increased. This continued rise is negatively affecting the quality of life of local residents and contributing to heightened perceptions and fear of crime across the area. Planned action to tackle this issue: - Work in partnership with the local authority and housing providers to address anti-social behaviour and its underlying causes. - Engage with local schools to educate young people about the impact of anti-social behaviour on individuals and the wider community. - Continue to encourage reporting and engage with the public through community contact points, face-to-face engagement, and online channels. - Work with the local authority and Youth Offending Team to identify appropriate interventions and deliver consequences for children involved in anti-social behaviour. - Develop intelligence and take positive action against those responsible for persistent anti-social behaviour. - Provide visible patrols and targeted engagement to reassure residents and address community concerns. Issued 01 October 2026	October update: - This is a newly refreshed priority for the area and updates will follow Actioned 01 January 2027

Priority

Action taken

Poaching and associated offending

Location:
Sixpenny Handley

Issue:
Poaching activity has re-emerged within the area and is being accompanied by related offences, including the intimidation of farmers and landowners, criminal damage, and the use of catapults. This behaviour is having a significant impact on the rural community, causing concern, distress and fear of crime among those affected.

Planned action to tackle this issue:
- A seasonal winter plan has been activated to tackle winter rural offending.
- Operation Ragwort is in place which sees regional forces come together to tackle organised rural crime.
- Operational Galileo is also in effect to solely tackle poaching.
- There is a use of proactive policing powers to maximise disruption, prevent offending and bring offenders to justice
- Engage with all elements of the community with visible connected policing

Issued 01 October 2026

October update:
- This is a newly refreshed priority for the area and updates will follow

Actioned 01 January 2027

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

Location;
Various Locations across Verwood.

Issue:
While overall crime has reduced, reports of anti-social behaviour have increased. This continued rise is negatively affecting the quality of life of local residents and contributing to heightened perceptions and fear of crime across the area.

Planned action to tackle this issue:
- Work in partnership with the local authority and housing providers to address anti-social behaviour and its underlying causes.
- Engage with local schools to educate young people about the impact of anti-social behaviour on individuals and the wider community.
- Continue to encourage reporting and engage with the public through community contact points, face-to-face engagement, and online channels.
- Work with the local authority and Youth Offending Team to identify appropriate interventions and deliver consequences for children involved in anti-social behaviour.
- Develop intelligence and take positive action against those responsible for persistent anti-social behaviour.
- Provide visible patrols and targeted engagement to reassure residents and address community concerns.

Issued 01 October 2026

October update:
- This is a newly refreshed priority for the area and updates will follow

Actioned 01 January 2027