VETERANS and members of the armed forces must be treated with 'fairness and respect', Dorset councils have pledged.

The Dorset armed forces covenant has been signed in recognition of the contribution the county's large armed forces community makes to society and the economy.

The pledge was signed by Dorset Council as well as the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary council.

It is a promise that partners - including councils, NHS and the police - will treat those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, with fairness and respect in their communities.

There are four army bases in Dorset, with around 3,150 currently serving army personnel, plus around 1,575 spouses and 2,389 children.

The county is also home to two per cent of the UK’s veterans, bringing the total number of members of the armed forces community in Dorset to over 100,000.

Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council’s member champion for the armed forces and chairman of the armed forces covenant programmes board, said:

“Having been a member of the Royal Air Force I know how important it is that support is not only available to Dorset’s vast armed forces community, but that all information, services and support available is better understood and promoted, assisted through our one-stop-shop veterans and armed forces family information points based in our local libraries.

“I feel a huge sense of relief that finally, through working closely with partners across Dorset, more is being done to support our local military community and that we are delivering on our promise, ‘to ensure that all those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly”.

Family information points providing advice to the armed forces community are being set up in 13 of the county's libraries.

Dorset has a two-year MoD funded programme to support the armed forces community.

The main partners are Dorset Council. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, Dorset HealthCare University Foundation Trust, NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Dorset.

The aim of the programme is to ensure partner organisations are aware of the covenant and treat members of the armed forces community fairly.

To find out more about the Armed Forces Covenant Programme visit www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-community/armed-forces-covenant.