THIS summer Dorset Police faced three days of demand that exceeded anything the county had experienced previously.

Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Sam de Reya, gold command for Covid, described as “incredible” the situation faced by the force with visitors flocking to the seaside as lockdown was eased.

Having joined Dorset Police earlier this year, the ACC for operations started her role the day after the chaotic scenes at Durdle Door and had a leading role in managing the major incident on Bournemouth’s beaches in June.

Asked about the challenges of the summer season in a new senior position, Ms de Reya said: “Personally, it is coming in and dealing with that sort of magnitude of incident and situation when you are getting to know the force at the same time and getting to know the partner agencies and what part of communities have what issues.

“In terms of the force, we haven’t had a standing army of resources to bring in to help us through summer policing and through the initial lockdown release.

“We have had to manage with what we have got, which is the same with forces across the country.

“We are not flush with resources. There is only so much we have got. One of the amazing things for me is how as a force we have galvanised into action over the summer just to deal with those peaks.

“There were three days where we had demand that we have never seen before. Forget Bournemouth Air Festival and those sort of situations.

"The demand has just been incredible.”

Ms de Reya said a different demographic had visited Dorset this summer, with group trips who would typically travel aboard.

She said it had been important to make sure the force’s resources were deployed effectively to manage risk and support the vulnerable.

“We have held the line and I am really proud of what we have done over the summer,” she added. “What the staff and officers have done is incredible really.”

Ms de Reya, who has worked in policing since 1996, said while there had been challenges to taking her new post in such a busy time, it had presented some benefits.

She said: “It was a really good running start and it has been fantastic coming in at such a busy and complicated time in some ways because it means you get to grips with things a lot quicker.”

Throughout the pandemic, the force has used enforcement measures for breaches of emergency coronavirus laws as a final option rather than an instant strategy.

While the new ‘rule of six’ guidance comes into power today, Ms de Reya said

Dorset Police will continue in the same vein, with an approach of the Es – engage, explain, educate and only enforce as a final policy. 

“You will not see a change in tactics from us,” she said. “It will be around the Es, only enforce as a last resort.

“At the end of the day, this is public health legislation to a certain degree. It is about looking after our communities.

“If we can turn up at a party and send people home and close it down and keep people safe – that is what we are there to do.

“The legislation is there when we can’t disrupt it or it is something where we think there is an added element that we might want to then use our powers to look at enforcement.

“It is really important. We are here to work with our communities.

“We don’t want to be hard line on this stuff. We are all trying to work through this together.”