Force praises Contact Management Team to mark the start of International Control Room Week
Dorset Police is shining a light on its Contact Management Team for the vital service it provides to the people of Dorset to mark the start of International Control Room Week.
The week, which runs from Monday 27 October until Sunday 2 November 2025, is celebrated by control rooms across the world to recognise the incredible lifesaving and lifechanging work control room teams provide to communities.
In 2024, the Force’s dedicated team dealt with over 132,000 emergency 999 calls, 143,000 non-emergency 101 calls and a further 45,000 online reports.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Lyne, of Dorset Police, said: “In Dorset our Contact Management Team is based in contact centres in Winfrith and Bournemouth. Our teams consist of 999 and 101 call handlers, dispatch teams who ensure police officers are quickly deployed to incidents, front counter services officers and colleagues who assist victims with online reports of crimes and incidents.
“We have recently introduced new resources to assess incoming crime and incident reports, which has been important to help us respond to demand in the smoothest way possible, providing an even better service to our communities.
“Enhanced Video Response (EVR) was launched in January 2025 and is a new way for victims to speak to an officer via secure video call. Since launch, EVR has been a great success with over 80 per cent of eligible victims choosing this method to speak to us.
“Our team is the first point of contact for anyone who is in need and during International Control Room Week, it is important to highlight their professionalism and dedication to keeping people safe.
“The critical service they provide to the people of Dorset is so important. I am proud to work with the team who work so hard to help our communities.
“Often our teams can face very high demand. With Halloween approaching, this naturally brings more demand on our 999 emergency line. My ask of you is to please only call us on 999 if you are witnessing a crime in progress or if there is an immediate threat to life."
The quickest and most effective way to report a crime or incident that has already taken place is by visiting the Dorset Police website: Home | Dorset Police. Alternatively, you can call 101, visit a Mobile Police Station or Community Contact Point. Find out when they will be near you here: Mobile Police Station | Dorset Police or here: Your area | Dorset Police.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, David Sidwick said “Control Room Week is a wonderful opportunity to recognise the dedication, professionalism, and compassion of our control room staff and call handlers. They are the unseen frontline of policing — the calm and reassuring voices who support our communities at their most vulnerable moments. Their work not only keeps Dorset safe but also builds the trust and confidence that the public place in our police service every day. I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone in Dorset Police’s control room for their tireless commitment and vital contribution to making Dorset a safe place for all.”
We are currently recruiting contact officers to join our dedicated team. If you want an exciting and rewarding role where no two days are the same, you can find out more here: Dorset Police Contact Management - Dorset Police and Devon & Cornwall Police working in Partnership.
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