Neighbourhood teams across Dorset are stepping up policing activities this week to target key issues in the community, as part of the national Neighbourhood Policing Week of Action.

All local policing teams across Dorset will be highlighting the vital work that neighbourhood officers, police community support officers (PCSOs) and volunteers do to protect the public and keep people safe this week.

They will be engaging with their communities though Community Contact Points in key areas, increasing their visible presence, and speaking with schools and young people.

As well as these increased engagement opportunities, additional support will be placed in areas that have been highlighted as causing a particular concern to local residents for issues such as anti-social behaviour.

Targeted proactive patrols, intelligence led address checks and warrants will be executed alongside partners from the Local Authority anti-social behaviour teams, as part of the week of action, to support communities.

Updates on activities taking place will be published on each area's social media accounts throughout the week of action using the hashtag #NeighbourhoodPolicingDorset.

Dorset Police neighbourhood policing lead, Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Farrell, said: "Neighbourhood policing is at the heart of everything we do and building trust and confidence with our local communities is vital in helping us to prevent crime, bring offenders to justice and keep people safe – especially the most vulnerable.

"This week of action is an ideal opportunity to recognise and celebrate the vital work that all our neighbourhood policing teams, and our wider policing family perform every day to keep communities safe and make Dorset a hostile place for criminals."

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick, said: "Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams play a vital role in keeping our communities safe. For many officers, working in neighbourhood policing really is what it's all about – being out and about, getting to know local people, making connections, addressing issues and solving problems and being right at the heart of the community they serve.

"I'd like to thank all of the Neighbourhood Policing Teams for their continued hard work and dedication, and I hope this week will shed some light on the challenging and highly effective work they do for the residents and communities of Dorset."

If you are unable to make any of the planned face-to-face engagement events and are concerned about issues in your neighbourhood, please contact your local neighbourhood team online at www.dorset.police.uk/contact, or by calling 101. If a crime is in progress or life in danger, always dial 999.