Weymouth's project to improve night time safety

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Women from Weymouth's WI go out in the town at night. How safe do they feel?

A new project in Weymouth town centre is hoping to attract locals into the town at night, a time of day when many residents might not normally visit.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council believes that "a small minority" of residents think Weymouth can be a dangerous place at night.

But the council says the fear of crime is greater than actual crime.

Councillor Ian James, Brief holder for Community Safety, said:"The project is an opportunity to [change] this."

In the first part of the project, the council will hold a workshop with Dorset Police and Weymouth's businesses to help identify where the night time issues in the town may be, and what action they could take to improve them.

Councillor James said: "This gives us the opportunity to examine how changes in the planning, design and management of the town centre can help reduce crime, fear of crime and also encourage residents who don't currently use it to do so and therefore enjoy what it has to offer."

Safe and enjoyable

The women say they take their personal safety seriously

In Weymouth town centre, the local Women's Institute group hold their regular meeting in a pub.

Members said they were aware of crime but they try to keep the fear of crime "in proportion" - their fears were concerned with more common "low level" crimes, such as rowdy or anti-social behaviour.

Barbara Smith, Sarah Holmes, Judy Backwell and Jo Skinner all say they take their personal safety seriously.

But how safe did they feel on the streets of Weymouth on a busy Friday night?

One said: "We wouldn't park in the multi storey car park in town [at night] but I can also see the difference between [the crime] I see on the news and what might actually happen in real life."

Superintendent Dave Thorp from Dorset Police, said: "The reality is that the risk of crime is there, but crime itself in Dorset has been falling.

"Working with Weymouth and Portland Council and our other partners on the 'After Dark' strategy will ensure that a night time environment is created which is both safe and enjoyable.

"We are really looking forward to seeing further practical improvements."

Watch the report by BBC Dorset's Simon Clemison