MORE action is being taken over the troubled Dorset Police 101 call service.

At a meeting of the Dorset Police and Crime Panel, members heard about efforts made by the police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill to improve the service.

In June, Dorset Police apologised for delays in answering 101 calls, blaming an influx of tourists and staff restructuring.

At the meeting Debbie Simpson, Dorset’s Chief Constable, explained that in June alone the number had received an additional 7,000 calls, representing an unprecedented increase of 28 per cent, despite no recorded increase in crime or incidents.

She said that in response to the concerns, the force had recruited more call handlers and started filtering some of the calls.

Details of the latest crime figures were also heard at the meeting.

Hate crimes, homophobic offences and violent incidents are on the rise, compared to the same period last year, a report revealed.

Despite reductions in anti-social behaviour, burglary, vehicle crime and serious road collisions, the figures showed a shocking rise in violent incidents, alcohol-related crime and racially and religiously aggravated crime. Hate incidents also saw a worrying rise. Last year, from April to June, 15 people were seriously hurt in violent incidents across Dorset.

This year, the figure for the same period is 39 – a 160 per cent increase.

Public place violent crime is also on the rise with 999 incidents so far this year compared to 792 last year. Alcohol-related crime is also on the rise from 678 incidents to 838 offences, a rise of 25 per cent.

And there was also a 40 per cent rise in racially and religiously aggravated crime with incidents increasing from 25 to 35 compared to last year.

Hate incidents rose from 74 to 87 with the report largely attributing the increase to an extra 11 reported homophobic incidents.

Increased officer training is partly to blame for the rise, the report states.