A DORSET police officer has made the rare move of explaining in public why the force was unable to charge those they believe were responsible for car vandalism in a Wimborne street.

Thousands of pounds of damage was caused in Allenview Road when vandals went on the rampage with keys, scratching the paintwork on parked vehicles.

Following police enquiries, three individuals were arrested for the crime and officers say they are not looking for anyone else.

But the three were never charged.

In his community magazine The Beat, local beat officer PC Adrian Bowyer of Wimborne Police outlines in detail why the threesome weren't charged and justice meted out.

PC Bowyer said: "Let me explain, as I can almost hear the shouts of indignation.

"Sad to say, and despite the effort that was put in by local officers, it was decided that there just wasn't sufficient evidence to give us the chance of a successful prosecution.

"The incidents took place well after midnight when most decent law-abiding people are tucked up in bed.

"Those that did hear something did look out of their windows but saw only dark figures walking along a road. True, one of them was heard to say something about keying a car, but that didn't really help us at all." He says the suspects were later identified.

"And although what was said in the interviews convinces us that we had arrested the right people - we're not looking for anyone else - the combined evidence was not enough to allow us to charge them.

"So thanks to the people who assisted us and my commiserations to those whose cars were damaged. It's a shame we couldn't take this any further."

Following a four-year stint as beat officer, PC Bowyer moved on from Wimborne this week for a job training probationary constables.