The Dorset Council Police and Crime Panel are scheduled to meet to discuss the Q1 monitoring report, Operation Snap, and the Enhanced Video Response programme. The panel will also receive a verbal update on complaints and discuss the forward workplan.

Enhanced Video Response (EVR)

The panel is scheduled to receive an update on Dorset Police's Enhanced Video Response (EVR) programme. According to the report pack, EVR uses secure video technology to resolve suitable Grade 3 incidents¹. The report states that EVR is designed to improve service to victims, reduce delays, and free officers to focus on urgent calls, while maintaining investigative rigour and safeguarding standards.

The report pack states that the 2023 Dorset trial, involving over 1,000 cases, demonstrated substantial benefits: response times were 19 days faster, positive outcomes increased by over 70%, and investigations were more compliant with College of Policing standards. Victim satisfaction also reportedly rose significantly, with 83% of EVR participants satisfied with their response, compared to 60% for traditional methods, and nearly 90% said they would use EVR again. As a result, EVR was adopted force wide.

The Director of Operations, Adam Harrold, is scheduled to provide a report that sets out progress to date, explores effectiveness, and addresses key lines of enquiry, including:

• How Dorset Police determines eligibility for EVR and what steps are taken to ensure that risks are mitigated.
• Whether the EVR process is compliant with police Authorised Professional Practice (APP) and whether it delivers equivalent investigative rigour.
• How EVR arrest rates, prosecutions and victim satisfaction measures compare with traditional delivery methods.
• What the time savings brought about by EVR are and how resources are reinvested.
• What oversight of the EVR process exists and how scalable EVR is within and outside Dorset.
• Whether there are barriers to increasing EVR adoption and how these are addressed.

The report pack notes that Chief Superintendent Stewart Gates, Dorset Police's lead for EVR, has authored reports and presented materials for the use of all forces in England and Wales, and internationally.

Operation Snap

The panel is scheduled to receive an update on Operation Snap (Op Snap), Dorset Police's initiative enabling the public to submit video or photographic evidence of dangerous or careless driving. The report pack states that the scheme is managed by Dorset Road Safe (DRS), and supports the wider work of improving road safety and reducing deaths and serious injuries on Dorset's roads.

The report pack notes that since its launch, submissions to Op Snap have risen significantly year on year, from 647 in 2020 to 2,764 in 2024, reflecting both increased public awareness and wider use of dashcams and helmet cameras. Enforcement outcomes have also improved: the proportion of submissions leading to positive action – such as prosecution, fixed penalties, or driver education – rose from 27% in 2020 to 43% in 2024. Overall, 3,715 road users have faced consequences ranging from warning letters to court prosecution, contributing to deterrence and behaviour change.

The report pack also notes some challenges with Operation Snap:

Processing submissions is resourceintensive, yet there is no dedicated team; staff from the Central Ticket Office and Driver Awareness Scheme carry out this work alongside core duties, with occasional support from specialist officers. High volumes of submissions cannot always be processed promptly, and evidential thresholds – particularly in close pass incidents involving cyclists – can be difficult to meet. Furthermore, Dorset Police cannot routinely update every submitter on outcomes, sometimes leading to frustration among the public.

The report pack states that the road safety efforts focus on tackling the Fatal Five causes of serious collisions: drink and drug driving, speeding, seatbelt non-use, mobile phone distraction, and careless or inconsiderate driving.

The panel will consider the following key lines of enquiry:

• What resources (staff, training, digital tools) are dedicated to Operation Snap, and does the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) believe that the current model is sustainable given increasing public submissions and expectations?
• How accessible and user-friendly is the Operation Snap reporting process for members of the public, and what steps has the Force and PCC taken to promote awareness and participation across all communities in Dorset?
• What proportion of Operation Snap submissions result in enforcement action, and how does the Force balance activity against other road safety demands?
• What measurable impact has Operation Snap had on improving road safety and driver behaviour in Dorset since its implementation? How does this fit into the broader road safety strategy and the PCC's Police and Crime Plan?
• How are results communicated to the public and what challenges and opportunities for the service has the PCC identified?

Q1 Monitoring Report

The panel is scheduled to receive the Q1 Monitoring Report 2025/26. The report pack includes an overview of progress and highlights relating to the Police and Crime Plan.

The report pack states that the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) awarded £49,623 funding to 12 organisations for initiatives to reduce anti social behaviour within Dorset, following the launch of round 5 of the Op Relentless Community Fund.

The report pack also notes that the PCC and Chief Constable welcomed confirmation from the Government that all forces would receive extra funding to increase resources dedicated to neighbourhood teams. The initial £100m Government commitment was doubled to £200m and Dorset is set to receive £1.6m in 2025/26 to increase the numbers of police officers and staff working in frontline neighbourhood policing roles.

The report pack states that the PCC issued a public statement regarding the spending review – reiterating that, as Dorset Police is the second worst funded Force in the country, the county's taxpayers already pay proportionally more than others for their police force, and called for rurality and seasonality to be included as part of the funding formula and for Dorset's MPs to help make the case for change.

Other Business

The agenda also includes:

• Apologies for absence.
• Confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 24th July 2025.
• Declarations of interest.
• Public participation.
• Councillor questions.
• A verbal update on complaints from the Service Manager for Assurance, Marc Eyre.
• Discussion of the forward workplan.
• Urgent items.
• Exempt business.