ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour is 'getting out of hand' in Littlemoor following reports of alleged shop thefts, bottles being thrown at delivery vans, a shop window damaged and even a call-out to a young person said to be in the possession of a machete, as police say they will step up patrols.

Shop workers say the incidents are nothing new but having quietened down for a while the issues have returned ‘worse’ than before, and could ‘spoil’ the area.

“Something needs to be done because it’s quite intimidating,” said Lisa Kerr, a manager at Sue Ryder’s charity shop.

“It is a shame it used to be derelict now we have all of this lovely communal area and now it would be a shame to spoil all that.”

Dorset Echo:

Dorset Police confirmed they received a report on Wednesday that a group of young people were outside Home Bargains, with one claiming the group to be in the possession of two machetes.

Officers attended with one of the group searched but no weapon was found and a section 35 dispersal notice was issued.

Police also confirmed on Sunday at 7.49pm they received a report of the theft of items from a delivery driver at the shopping centre but enquiries are ongoing with no arrests made.

A concerned employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said he has been made aware of multiple incidents including thefts, bottles thrown at delivery vans and a shop window smashed saying the 'situation is getting out of hand'.

The window belonged to Sue Ryder's shop Ms Kerr said 'it was awful' to see the 'unnecessary damage'.

Dorset Echo:

The Littlemoor resident moved to the area in 2012 and says there have been ‘issues for years’ but ‘for a long time there was a lull’.

She said: “Police need to be here at night, it does not happen in the day it’s when we go home.”
In response chief inspector Andy Edwards, of Dorset County Local Policing Area, said: “We are fully aware of the impact anti-social behaviour can have on our local businesses and communities and we are working with our partners to deal with any issues in both the short and long term via a range of strategies.
“Anti-social behaviour continues to remain a priority for our neighbourhood policing teams and we are continuing to carry out regular patrols across the town.
"We will engage and, if necessary, seek to provide early intervention by using escalating enforcement powers and partnership resources to address the behaviour of those that seek to harm our community.
“This work forms part of Operation Relentless, the Force’s drive to reduce anti-social behaviour anti-social behaviour. The operation aims to remind residents and visitors that Dorset Police takes a tough approach to anti-social behaviour and send a very clear message to those involved that it simply will not be tolerated in the county.
“We would encourage everyone to please report incidents of anti-social behaviour to Dorset Police.
“These reports help us to build an intelligence picture across the area to find out where anti-social behaviour is occurring and to direct patrols to any areas that have increased reporting of anti-social behaviour.”