A Day of Action takes place in Bournemouth town centre today.
It aims to highlight the efforts of BCP Council and its partners to reduce littering, anti-social behaviour (ASB), illegal parking, uphold trading standards and enforce Public Spaces Protection Orders.
Taking part will be Bournemouth Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) Rangers and WISE Litter Enforcement Officers.
Community Action Network volunteers will also be litter picking and involved in gardening activities.
Street cleansing is a priority area of improvement following the Town Centre Survey last year.
An engagement stand outside NatWest bank in Bournemouth Square between 10am and 2pm will allow residents and businesses to engage with council teams and partners to understand what is being done to improve Bournemouth town centre, ask questions and give feedback.
Personnel from the council’s Public Protection, Community Safety (CSAS), ASB, Parking Services and Economic Development teams will be present, alongside partners from Dorset Police.
Dorset Police will also be operating a high-tech knife arch in the Square, helping people to understand the risks and consequences of carrying a knife.
The initiative is in line with BCP Council’s Knife Crime Awareness campaign, which hopes to decrease instances of knife crime whilst raising awareness for the issue and educating young people.
The campaign follows the death of Cameron Hamilton, 18, last summer, who was fatally stabbed in Bournemouth Square following an altercation on a night out.
Councillor Vikki Slade, Leader of BCP Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places, said: “The council continues to prioritise Bournemouth town centre, not just with words, but with action.
“This latest Day of Action provides another opportunity for residents and businesses to see first-hand the positive, collaborative work that is being done by the council and its partners to enact positive and sought-after change in the locality.
“We are already beginning to see the benefit of our work, such as a decrease in reported instances of ASB, but there is still much work to be done.
“I encourage people to come down and engage with our teams and partners, and use the event as an opportunity to understand more about what we are doing and our ongoing commitments as shaped by the Town Centre Survey.
“I have been clear from the start that, if we are to achieve our objectives, it must be a shared effort.
“We will continue to do all we can to remove barriers, work alongside and empower our communities to do more in the town centre.”
Other areas where residents and businesses requested improvement include parking enforcement, enabling the commercial use of empty premises, and organising days of action.