My hour's wait for 999 policeman

From the Echo, first published Thursday 2nd Oct 2003.

MUM Tracy Chisholm nabbed the thief who stole her daughter's bike... . but then had to wait an hour for police to come to her aid.

She claimed a police dog handler who finally responded to her 999 call on Portland said he had travelled from Shaftesbury, because all the island's officers were tied up policing the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.

Mrs Chisholm said she collared the thief - a boy aged about 12 - and had witnesses outside the Alldays shop in Weston Road, but they had gone by the time help arrived.

Police said they had a full squad of officers on duty but were committed to more serious emergency calls.

Now Portland councillor Jacqui Redfern and Mayor Steve Flew have backed Mrs Chisholm's calls for more police.

Mrs Chisholm said: "I was at the shop with my daughter just after 7pm when she saw her bicycle, which had been stolen in August.

"I got hold of the bike but a lad said it was his. I phoned the police on 999 from inside the shop.

"I had the lad and witnesses there, and was waiting for the police. They hadn't arrived after 30 minutes so I called 999 again.

"When a policeman arrived after another 30-minute wait he didn't have his sirens on. He said he was a dog handler who had come from Shaftesbury and that all the local officers were at the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth."

Mrs Chisholm, who recovered the stolen bicycle, added: "There needs to be a better police presence on Portland.

"I was amazed that it took so long for a 999 call to get a response."

Dorset Police said that Mrs Chisholm first called at 7.37pm on September 30 and then at 7.45pm to say the boy had left, before an officer arrived at 8.10pm.

They said that the call was given less priority when they thought the boy had left because officers were busy dealing with a missing five-year-old and two incidents involving children in West Weymouth and Portland. Chief Inspector Charlie Eggar, the Western Division support manager, said: "Staffing levels for West Weymouth were normal with four officers on duty.

"This is normal, irrespective of the party conference, but they were all committed to other serious incidents."

Coun Redfern called for a stronger police presence on the island and for the 'Do you know where your children are?' campaign to be relaunched.

She said: "The police work really hard but they need to catch people in the act and that's why we need officers here."

Coun Redfern is due to meet Portland and West Weymouth Inspector Tony Rudd next week about policing after under-age drinkers caused problems in Easton Gardens on Friday night.

The force has vowed to re-open a station on the island with the Old Gate House at Osprey Quay among the potential sites.

Portland Mayor Steve Flew said that Portland Town Council would continue to push for more officers.

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