Good Safe Summer: The Difference Hotspot Patrols Make

Good Safe Summer: The Difference Hotspot Patrols Make

As we move further into the summer and closer to Dorset's busiest period of the tourist season, with thousands of visitors expected to enjoy day trips, holidays and staycations across our beautiful county, you may have seen Dorset Police talking about having a Good Safe Summer.

As you may know, Good Safe Summer is the Force's summer policing campaign. You can read more about the campaign and what it involves in one of my previous newsletters here.

As part of the campaign, you might see Dorset Police talking about hotspot patrols across the county. But what exactly does that mean? Policing often uses terminology that can be unclear or mean something different to the public. As the voice of the public in policing, I believe it is important that we make this language accessible and transparent, so that people understand not only what these initiatives involve, but also the difference they are making in our communities.

With that in mind, I'm delighted to invite Inspector Sophie Williams, who has been leading Dorset's hotspot patrol initiative, to explain more about the work taking place. Inspector Williams shares what hotspot patrols involve, why they are being used, and the impact they are having on reducing crime and keeping people safe this summer.

I am Inspector Sophie Williams and served as the operational delivery lead for Dorset Police's Hotspot Action Fund, overseeing the Force's implementation of the national hotspot policing programme in Dorset. I now serve as Dorset's tactical adviser on hotspot policing. Alongside my operational experience, I hold a postgraduate certificate in evidence-based practice, specialising in the use of academic research to strengthen policing delivery around problem-oriented policing (POP).

Hotspot policing is an evidence-based approach focused on placing uniformed officers on patrol in locations that have been identified through data analysis as locations where crime and anti-social behaviour are most concentrated. This ensures patrols are not based on assumption or tradition, but on objective evidence of harm. That is why reporting incidents of concern is so crucial to policing. The public can literally drive our targeting of an area by reporting crime to us. Hotspot locations can change, and the Force regularly reviews where the need for patrols is by using our civilian data analysts to examine a combination of public contact data, crime data, intelligence reports, repeat incident patterns and seasonal trends.

Hotspot patrols differ from standard neighbourhood policing. While neighbourhood policing focuses on long-term problem solving, engagement and partnership working, hotspot patrols are highly targeted, time-specific and data-driven, with a focus on crime prevention. Neighbourhood teams may spend extended periods in communities; hotspot patrols are deliberately short, sharp and frequent, designed to disrupt crime patterns rather than provide general coverage.

Hotspot patrols were originally introduced through the Government's Hotspot Action Fund in 2024, with the fund ending in March 2026. However, the Force is still utilising this intelligence-led and data-driven way of working, with hotspot patrols taking place as part of Operation Nightjar and Operation Nighthawk to target public place violence and anti-social behaviour in the night-time economy. Hotspot patrols are also playing a vital role in the Force's Good Safe Summer campaign, tackling violence, anti-social behaviour and helping manage increased summer demand in locations like Bournemouth beach and pier, Weymouth town centre and seafront, and other locations popular with tourists.

Since hotspot patrols were introduced, we have seen significant reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour in hotspot areas, improved visibility and public reassurance, and strengthened partnership working across councils, policing teams and external agencies. In several areas, crime fell within days of patrols being introduced, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted visibility. In summer 2025, public place violence was halved following the introduction of Operation Nighthawk in Weymouth town centre.

As Dorset's tactical adviser on hotspot policing, I remain committed to ensuring this approach continues to evolve and support frontline officers in delivering the best possible service. I encourage the public to search for hotspot policing on the College of Policing's website and to also have a look at the work being undertaken by Professor Spencer Chainey.

As Dorset enters the busiest month of the summer, my message is simple: we are here, we are visible, and we are focused on keeping you safe so that everyone can enjoy a Good Safe Summer.

Hotspot patrols work and are one of the ways we ensure Dorset remains a welcoming, vibrant and safe place for residents and visitors alike. If you see a crime take place or have concerns, report them to us. While police understandably cannot attend every call for service, the information always goes somewhere, and our data analysts use this information to build the evidence base used to identify hotspot locations.

I'd like to thank Inspector Williams for taking the time to explain how hotspot patrols are helping Dorset Police tackle anti-social behaviour and violent crime across our county.

Repeatedly, residents tell me they want to see more police officers out in their communities. That is exactly what hotspot patrols deliver – visible policing in the places where it is needed most. By targeting areas identified through data and intelligence as being at greater risk of anti-social behaviour and violent crime, officers can prevent offences before they happen, reassure local communities and take action against those who seek to cause harm.

This is exactly the kind of proactive policing Dorset residents want to see more of – preventing crime, protecting our communities and making Dorset an even safer place to live, work and visit. We all have a part to play in keeping Dorset safe, so if you see something that doesn't look right, please report it. Together, we can continue to send a clear message that crime and anti-social behaviour have no place in Dorset.

David Sidwick

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner