Volunteers sought for resort's night patrols

Volunteers are being sought to help assist people who become vulnerable or need help while on a night out in Bournemouth.

The Community Guardianship Volunteers will patrol alongside police and other community organisations on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Part of the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) Community Safety Partnership, the volunteers would carry out tasks including providing water, foil blankets for warmth or assistance getting home.

Dorset police and crime commissioner (PCC) David Sidwick said the scheme would "strengthen the community".

Patrols will take place around Lansdowne, Horseshoe Common and Bournemouth Square between 20:00 and 00:00.

The scheme will work in tandem with other BCP Community Safety projects such as BCP Unity Promise, The Safe Places Scheme, and the Safe Bus.

It will also sit alongside the work of the Bournemouth Town Pastors, a dedicated team of volunteers, who have been providing help to anyone in need of it on Saturday nights since September 2017.

Kieron Wilson, BCP Council's portfolio holder for housing and regulatory services, said volunteers' efforts would be "greatly welcomed".

“Working with our partners, we want to enable people to contribute to the local community, providing reassurance and comfort to individuals who may find themselves in distress or in need of help," he said.

Dorset Police will co-ordinate recruitment and vet candidates while providing training and equipment.

Mr Sidwick, whose office has jointly funded the project, said volunteers would be "comprehensively trained".

He said: “Keeping people safe is a shared priority and this initiative is yet another example of how partners are working together to ensure people not only stay safe but feel safe when they are out and about enjoying what Bournemouth has to offer.”

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