West Dorset MP Chris Loder has hailed the announcement from the Prime Minister this morning of a far-reaching range of new measures to tackle antisocial behaviour in our communities.
Among the measures announced on the 27th March, the Government will be banning the use of Nitrous Oxide ‘laughing gas’, forcing vandals to repair the damage they have caused, wider reaching police presence and drug testing capacity and increased fines for fly tipping, litter and graffiti.
The local MP Mr Loder, who has campaigned for greater support and measures to tackle these issues, has strongly welcomed this news. Mr Loder said;
“These measures go a long way to addressing the key policing needs of West Dorset – especially antisocial behaviour, drugs, fly tipping and litter. I have worked hard to secure the better prioritisation of resources for places like Lyme Regis and Bridport where there have been a number of hotspots and incidents and even arranged to meet the Home Secretary last year to address this problem.”
Mr Loder has undertaken several measures to secure the focus required to help these issues. The MP met with the Home Secretary in 2022 to urge for a clampdown on Antisocial behaviour, joined Dorset Police on patrol in Lyme Regis and Bridport to see first-hand the demands and constraints on the local police service, and held a dedicated residents meeting in Lyme Regis last year to push back against antisocial behaviour and drug crime. After Mr Loder’s urging, Dorset Police’s Rural Crime team has also been increased roughly fourfold over the past year. Mr Loder continues meeting with residents affected by these issues and has welcomed significant boosts to West Dorset’s policing presence in recent months to support the MP’s campaign.
Mr Loder continued; “The Government’s new measures promise to overhaul policing of antisocial behaviour in West Dorset and I will continue working hard to ensure that we in West Dorset have our policing needs fully addressed”
