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High risk offenders unit bolsters victim protection measures

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Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith by Dorset Police
Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith (Photo Credit: Dorset Police)

Dorset Police have implemented excess measures to protect victims of members of the High Harm Unit.

The unit monitors the 15 highest risk offenders in cases involving violence against women and girls. The new initiative will look to provide stronger protection for victims of this unit.

Detective Inspector Marcus McCorkell of the High Harm Unit said there is, “evidence [that] shows that women and girls are disproportionately impacted by violent and harassing behaviour” in a press release earlier today.

Statistics provided by Dorset Police prove the initiative to have been effective, with reoffence by members of the group down 59 per cent in the last six months and 40 per cent over the whole year previous.

Whilst statistics are down, when reoffences do happen the unit use their prior information to intervene and locate suspects.

The initiative was implemented for situations like Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith’s. Foster-Smith was jailed for stalking offences in October 2023, spending 26 months jailed. His pending release resulted in the High Harm Unit filing a stalking prevention order against him to ensure that he is restricted heavily upon his release.

Part of the order requires Foster-Smith to assure he has close contact with his police offender manager, also prohibiting him from contacting his victim in any way.

“We want all members of our community to be safe and feel safe”, said Detective Inspector McCorkell.

“The High Harm Unit has seen has seen a dedicated resource achieve real results in this area and we will continue to do all we can to prevent reoffending as well as respond quickly to protect and support victims if offences do occur”, he said.

The unit was launched in 2023 by Dorset Police, championing the ‘HERE FOR HER SAFETY’ movement primarily. The 15 offenders in the group are guilty of stalking, domestic abuse, sexual misconduct and violence. The measures look to maintain an early intervention ethos within the group pertaining to high risk perpetrators who are thought likely to reoffend.