DORSET'S Police and Crime Commissioner says the creation of a special unit is needed to help tackle violence in the county.

He spoke after a spate of violence and serious crime in Weymouth and surrounding area over the past month including several assaults - at least one involving a knife - and a reported rape.

Police investigations are ongoing into a number of shocking incidents in the resort - with a number of people arrested or court proceedings underway - including a man losing an eye in a Rodwell Trail assault on January 6, a stabbing in Caroline Place on January 27, a man assaulted at the Marsh playground on February 7, a serious assault at a property in Lennox Street on February 11, a woman reportedly raped in a Park District alleyway on February 18, a woman assaulted in Newstead Road on the same date, and a teenager attacked at the Marsh on February 19.

READ: Teenage boy treated in hospital after assault in Weymouth

Meanwhile recent violent incidents in west Dorset have included a serious assault in Beaminster on February 16 and a man reportedly attacked in his own home in Bridport on February 20.

The Echo also reported on Friday, February 23 that armed police seized three blades from a car in Littlemoor.

PCC David Sidwick said the new violent crime reduction unit would be aimed at helping to address the issue of people carrying knives, as well as other violent crimes.

He said: "We are in the bottom five for the number of knife offences in the country, but we have too many kids carrying knives and that is the issue.

READ: Arrest after 'assault' that blinded man on Rodwell Trail

"That is why I have said I want a public health approach, I want a violence reduction unit in Dorset in order to address that, because that will do much more from the point of view of education and individual youth work with young people.

"So, we need that and hopefully that will have an effect on stopping some of those assaults as well."

Some violent crime is linked to drugs, another issue that Mr Sidwick says Dorset Police are working heard to combat.

He added:  "I do know though that the stance we are taking on drugs, which is much tougher than it used to be, is the right one.

READ: Woman told police she was raped in Weymouth alleyway

"We need three things: tough enforcement, effective treatment for those that are addicted and we need impactful prevention.

"The last one is the one that has not been invested in."

Tackling all of these issues is something he believes needs to be done through education and Mr Sidwick says he has invested money in projects to help with just that.

One of which is called the 'Wasps Nest', a dramatic arts presentation about county lines drug dealing.

He continued: "We have a brilliant safer schools team in Dorset Police that go around the schools and they talk about the drugs and the law but it will only effect part of the audience, so I have invested money in supporting something called the Wasps Nest.

READ: Dorset Police ask communities to help tackle drug crime

"It is very powerful, the cast is made up of ex-drug users so at the end of the presentation kids can ask them questions."

Another project being championed by the police boss is the 'talk about trust,' formerly The Alcohol Education Trust, and a pilot scheme that is helping educate 11 to 16 year-olds on the danger of gateway drugs, such as cannabis, MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine and Nitrous Oxide. 

Mr Sidwick added: "I have invested in them to do group work.

"They talk about the harm which those drugs can cause, in a group session.

"You are not saying 'don't do it' you are saying 'did you know this'. Because we know if you tell a teenager not to press the red button they will."