World Cup put added pressure on policing say county police chiefs

It comes after thousands of Dorset residents and visitors flocked to towns across the county including Weymouth, Dorchester and Bournemouth to watch England’s attempt to make it to the World Cup final on Wednesday, July 11.

However, the team were met with disappointment after opponents Croatia nicked the tie in extra time.

Deputy Chief Constable David Lewis said: “We have experienced an unprecedented level of demand during the world cup period.

DCC Lewis added that the celebrations, when combined with the hot weather, put pressure on our staff however he stressed have they really stepped up and shown a huge amount of commitment.

He added that they had the added responsibility of offering mutual aid to our partners in Wiltshire, as well as in the capital as part of the Donald Trump visit to the UK which put additional strain on resources.

He continued: “We have a robust summer policing policy but our biggest concern was public order and nuisance offences and low-level violence.

“I wasn’t expecting England to do quite so well but our staff have done a fantastic job.”

DCC Lewis concluded that the unprecedented level of demand would not be suitable in the long term adding that a merger with Dorset Police would help to ease demand.

Superintendent Mike Rogers, of the Alliance Operations Department, added: “The overwhelming majority of these celebrations have been good-natured, for which we are grateful, and we have taken a friendly, pro-active approach in response.”

At the same time, the force also experienced an “unprecedented” demand of 999 calls on the day of England’s World Cup victory against Sweden on July 7 than at any other point outside New Year’s Eve.

However, Chief Superintendent Glen Mayhew, strategic alliance commander for operations at the force said that “it wasn’t just Dorset experiencing the rise in calls.”

He stressed that a constant upwards demand pattern was reported by forces across the country.