RESIDENTS in two areas of Poole have been asked to shop those committing anti-social behaviour by sending images and videos directly to police.

Dorset Police launched its pilot Operation Point earlier this summer in two of the known hotspots for nuisance behaviour and low-level crime.

The communities in Poole town centre and Ashley Road, Parkstone, have been urged to help officers tackle anti-social behaviour.

Sergeant Sophie Williams, of Poole Neighbourhood Policing Team, said the force understood how offences of this nature can impact on communities.

She said driving these crimes down remained a priority for Dorset Police.

“We know that businesses and members of the public often capture incidents, including anti-social behaviour, on CCTV and dashcam but they don’t always send it onto us,” said Sergeant Williams. “Under this pilot we are asking businesses and members of the public to submit any images or footage they may have captured of ASB on home or business CCTV or dashcam to 101@dorset.PNN.police.uk.”

Operation Point, which falls under Dorset Police’s overall anti-social behaviour campaign Operation Relentless, runs until the end of September.

Posters have been placed in hotspot locations over the past couple of months. They contain a what3words (GPS) location to ensure members of the public can specify where the incident occurred.

“Any footage submitted will help us to understand the type of behaviour that is going on in these locations and we can either use legislation to deal with it based on the footage, or pass the information to the relevant partner agency where appropriate,” said Sergeant Williams.

“It is hoped this operation will also prevent ASB from occurring in the first place if individuals are aware that footage and images could be handed to the force.”

The success of Operation Point will be evaluated by the force at the end of the pilot.

While the police effort has been taking place throughout summer, crime in Ashley Road continues to cause concern among the community.

As reported, a petition with more than 2,000 signatures is calling on BCP Council and the police to make the area safer.

Ward councillor Millie Earl, who presented the petition to the local authority’s full council earlier this month, said the situation had improved recently but more needed to be done.

Vice chairman of the Dorset police and crime panel Cllr Bobbie Dove criticised Cllr Earl for progressing with the petition over the summer months.