Funding to reduce yobbish behaviour in Weymouth has been welcomed - but the problem needs tackling at the source, a youth worker says.

Following on from the announcement Dorset Police will get £1 million from the government, the force has now confirmed that part of that money will be used to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) hotspots in the seaside resort with more bobbies on the beat.

But a Weymouth youth worker who welcomes the funding says preventative measures to tackle petty crimes are also needed.

Hotspot policing patrols began in the town on Tuesday, April 2 after crime data from the last few years was used to identify places where issues have been reported regularly, so that patrols can be targeted precisely.

Tom Lane, primary youth worker at STEPS in Weymouth, believes that money should also be spent on preventative measures to stop young people becoming involved in ASB, and more serious crimes, like county drug lines.

This is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries, usually by children or vulnerable people.

READ: Weymouth: Police target shoplifters, anti-social behaviour

Mr Lane said: “It's good, I welcome any funding that comes in, in any way to support our communities, but I am in favour of funding being directed to preventive measures and divert young people away from ASB and other crimes rather than punitive measures.

"I am in favour of having more police, more bobbies on the beat is good, but as a youth worker, I would always say to stop involvement in ASB that investment in preventative measure is where money is best spent."

READ: Police fund helps tackles anti-social behaviour in Dorset

The new funding comes with guidance about the types of crimes it should be used to identify areas to target.

These include inconsiderate and repeated nuisance behaviours like street drinking and vehicle related ASB.

READ: Police boss calls for everyone to intervene on anti-social behaviour

Prevention is also part of hotspot policing with officers looking for behaviours that could escalate into serious violence and stopping it from happening.

The additional funding also means that the force can intensify ongoing work to tackle ASB and serious violence. This includes initiatives such as 100 Days of Summer in Weymouth.

READ: 100 Days of Summer Weymouth police operation success

Chief Superintendent Heather Dixey said: “Dorset Police is committed to creating and maintaining a safe county for everyone.

"However, these dedicated patrols are just one part of the equation to reducing crime in the hotspots. Reports from the public help us to understand what and where crime is happening in our communities – if we don’t know about it, we can’t put a stop to it. Please continue to make reports to the police because your reports will directly influence the work that we do.

“Our officers will use dispersal powers to direct people away from hotspots if they act in an anti-social manner. Repeated ASB by individuals may lead to further action including Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders."