Police won't say how many extra officers will patrol night-time economy

The warning comes from the Chairman of Dorset Police Federation James Dimmack who said the combination of rules coming to an end, people wanting to go out and enjoy life again and the fact most families are holidaying in this country will create a huge challenge.

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Chief Superintendent Mark Callaghan

England lockdown rules end on Monday meaning that nightclubs will be allowed to reopen for the first time since March 2020 and capacity limits will be removed for all venues and events. There will no longer be any limits on how many people can meet and the 1m-plus distancing rule will be removed.

In response Dorset Police have launched a new campaign to tackle violent crime, with the force announcing increased patrols in locations where people congregate in pubs, bars and nightclubs. Officers have undergone extra training ahead of the easing of Covid restrictions.

James Dimmack, Dorset Police Federation Chairman Picture:Jason Bye/MartisMedia

Mr Dimmack said: “We are all hopeful and welcoming of safe and suitable easing of restrictions. This will have a huge positive impact for all of society in terms of renewal of freedoms and the associated benefits to wellbeing and mental health.

“Policing however will be hugely tested by this. This easing coincides with the advent a summer a period of traditional pressure on already sparse resources. This is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of us are not holidaying abroad but remaining in the UK.

“This is all too prevalent within Dorset where our already burgeoning visitor numbers are likely to be vastly increased as people seek to substitute their normal summer activity.

“There is inevitably going to be a reaction to lockdown easing as people seek to make up for lost time both in terms of enjoyment and in recouping entertainment revenues. This will result in significant pressure on the ability of officers withstand this explosion of social activity and the inevitable issues that will generate.

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“To say the next two months will be a challenge is something of an understatement. Officers will do what they normally do and try to make it work.”

Mr Dimmack said plans were in place to support members throughout this 'challenging period'.

Chief Superintendent Mark Callaghan, Dorset Police’s lead on serious violence, did not provide specifics on how many additional officers would be provided at hotspots this summer.

Asked if the increased patrols could be quantified in terms of officer numbers, he said: "It all depends on our demand at the time really because we still have to service those immediate service calls.

"You will always see in the night-time economy period, early evening into the early hours, extra police officers in the towns, in our high volume areas providing reassurance and making sure we do early intervention with any issues.

"In addition to that, you will have local authority staff. The campaign generally and licensed premises have their own staff as well, so it is a joint effort to make sure people are safe and enjoy the towns across Dorset."

More officer patrols will occur across Weymouth which has been identified as a hotspot - particularly Weymouth Harbour

A spokesman for Dorset Council said: "We have used Covid-19 related Government grant funding to increase the number of community safety patrol officers working in Weymouth and other coastal towns during the summer period.

"Complementing Dorset Police and our town centre CCTV, they will be in our town centres, picking up issues and helping residents, businesses and visitors to keep safe through what is likely to be a busy summer."