Dorset Police Authority is taking part in a national campaign to raise awareness about the work of police authorities.

Many people don’t know that their local Police Authority plays a key role working with the Chief Constable to agree priorities for the Force and monitoring Force performance in meeting those priorities. In achieving this, the Police Authority ensures that the views of local people are properly taken into account.

Commenting on the campaign, Dorset Police Authority Chairman, Michael Taylor, said: "This is an important opportunity to increase public awareness about our role.

"Each year, Dorset Police Authority works hard to consult and listen to local people so we can find out their views on their policing priorities and how policing in Dorset can be improved.

"This is done through local consultations and surveys and we then work with the Chief Constable to take these views into account in planning and developing the County’s policing services."

The Police Authority is directly responsible for appointing Chief Officers to provide leadership and direction to the Force which is a critical role.

The most recent example of this occurred in May last year when, following a national recruitment campaign and an extensive recruitment process, the Authority appointed Mike Glanville as Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for operational policing in the county.

At the February 2010 meeting of the Police Authority, members will also be considering proposals from the Chief Constable for the 2010/11 Dorset Police budget and will set the policing element of the Council Tax for the year (the ‘policing precept’).

Gary Hepburn, the Police Authority’s lead on community consultation and engagement, said: "In setting the budget and policing precept, we take into account views expressed by members of the public, the national and local objectives for policing, and the implications for the Council Tax payer.

"We recognise the challenging current financial climate, but our key priority is to ensure funding that will secure an efficient and effective local policing service for 2010/11."

Another role of Dorset Police Authority is to ensure that Dorset Police has the modern resources required to meet the challenges of policing the county.

That role and commitment was demonstrated as recently as December 2009 with the opening of the new, and much needed, police station, custody suite and divisional headquarters in Poole.

Later this year new custody facilities are also due to open in Bournemouth, replacing the old facilities at the Bournemouth Central Police Station in Madeira Road.

The public may also be unaware that Police Authority members come from the local community. Dorset Police Authority is made up of a mixture of independent and councillor members and forms a bridge between local communities and Dorset Police.

Gary Hepburn added: "The success of the current arrangements is based upon the unique structure of Police Authorities.

"These authorities are representative of local communities and are committed to ensuring that they continue to represent the best interests of all local people. They therefore help to ensure that our communities get the policing they want and deserve.

"If the public would like to find out more about the Dorset Police Authority, our members, and the work that we do then we would encourage them to visit our website at http://www.dpa.police.uk."