Inspector Lee, a neighbourhood police inspector in Poole, spoke on behalf of Poole police about community outreach.
The force has an initiative set up to reach out to groups with less community engagement. This includes faith groups and those from different ethnicities and backgrounds.
The aim is to provide a listening ear for people to voice concerns and offer crime prevention advice.
Poole Police is reaching out via social media to ask leaders of groups within the community to get in contact.
“We want to make sure that we’re diverse in our representation,” said Inspector Lee.
“We’re particularly keen on those who represent groups. We’re really eager to hear from those people in order to ensure that when crimes, incidents and updates get put out, we make sure that the widest possible representation of the community receives that message.
“It’s vital that we have those direct links into those communities. It ensures that we understand what matters to them and we find out how it impacts them.”
Engagement with the public is a service that has been going on for years but Poole Police want to ensure that all members of the community are being reached.
Inspector Lee said: “We can understand what matters to people and not just be influenced by a small section of the community.”
Through this initiative, the force hopes to expand community engagement.
“I think we should never be resting on our laurels. I think we always need to be making sure that as a police service, we are, talking to our communities and listening to them.”
If you are interested in being part of the initiative send an email to NEO@dorset.pnn.police.uk using reference POOLE5387.
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