A door-to-door high-visibility campaign to help reduce burglary in the Ferndown villages of West Moors, St Leonards, St Ives and Ashley Heath has been hailed a success by the area’s Section Commander.

The two week initiative was launched on, Monday 11 January 2010 by Safer Neighbourhood Teams, Special Constables, volunteers and Home Watch.

Two thousand two hundred homes in 40 roads were visited by officers including Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and Special Constables (SCs).

During the two week initiative, on the 21 January 2010, 42-year-old Anthony Swift from Bournemouth was caught by the officers out on patrol - he was arrested and charged with a domestic burglary.

The 42 year old has since pleaded guilty to the charge at Bournemouth Crown Court and will be sentenced next month.

This month, there has also been a rise in the number of alarm systems purchased at the Community Office at the Barrington Centre in Ferndown.

Officers knocked on every door on every street in the area offering advice on improving home security and giving out Home Office security information packs. More than 200 UV property marking pens were given out.

More than 200 householders also took up the opportunity to visit the Police Community Support Vehicle, which was parked nearby and staffed by a volunteer from the Barrington Community Office. It contained a number of working alarms and other security equipment available for demonstrations.

Section Commander for East Dorset, Inspector Mike Darkin, has deemed the campaign a huge success: “It has been a great example of team working by all members of the Ferndown Safer Neighbourhood Team and a real worthwhile initiative that has been appreciated by the community and organisations involved.

“We’ve also seen a significant reduction in the number of reported shed breaks and burglaries so we may be able to correlate this to the work that has been done in the area.”