PCC defends decision to release body-worn footage

The decision to release footage showing a police officer putting his hands on a 15-year-old boy's throat has been defended by the man responsible for the police force.

Dorset's Police Crime Commissioner (PCC), David Sidwick, said releasing the footage would help the public "make up their own minds".

PC Lorne Castle was dismissed without notice for gross misconduct following his detention of a 15-year-old boy in Bournemouth in January 2024.

The PCC was responding to the concerns of Dorset residents, put to him by BBC Radio Solent.

Dorset Police released body-worn camera footage of the incident, in which the officer shouted and swore, telling the boy: "Stop resisting or I'm going to smash you."

Mr Sidwick said he would not comment on the case or the subsequent appeal by Lorne Castle, but said previously that Dorset Police was right to release the video to allow the public to "make up their own minds".

Thre PCC said: "Mr Castle has a right to appeal. The legal process has got to play out. Once that happens I will be making comment because I have been looking at this intently as you can imagine."

Ruth Kimber and Alicia Trowbridge from Blandford said they wanted to feel safer, and for women to "be able to walk the streets without feeling you're at risk of anything".

The PCC said the safety of women and girls was one of his "top priorities".

"The first thing I'd say is I'm sorry people feel like that. Crime is down 7% in Dorset while I've been PCC, but that doesn't matter if people don't feel safe", Mr Sidwick said.

"We work with partners, the local authorities, trying to get more CCTV, I went into bat to get Safer Streets funding, it also helps fund projects aimed at increasing the safety of women and girls, so things like funding for the Unity Promise in B, funding STARS, Sexual Trauma and Recovery Service to people who've had problems.

"It's also important to encourage women to tell us exactly where they don't feel safe, including using the Street Safe app."

John and Pat Day from Lytchett Minster wanted to know what the PCC would do about shoplifting.

John said: "We need more officers on the street. People are scared to go out at night.

"Shoplifting is a big issue. Small shops need to be protected. It's not up to people to make citizens arrests because of knife crime."

Mr Sidwick said it was a live issue that the force was tackling.

"Our increase in shoplifting is 5% in Dorset, it's 20% across the country. Operation Shopkeeper in Dorset targets shoplifters.

"It's working. We are doing it every day. I've said to the force they need to show they are cutting crime, reducing ASB, they have to show that and keep doing what they're doing."

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