The one year anniversary of the partnership between Dorset Police and the It’s All About Culture (IAAC) charity has been marked with a celebration at the Community Hub in Boscombe.

The event at the Hub in the Sovereign Centre took place on Wednesday 12 October 2022 and was attended by community leaders, local business people and officers and staff from Dorset Police, including Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Farrell and Assistant Chief Officer Jo Mosley.

The partnership was set up in 2021 as part of Black History Month to help embed Dorset Police into this diverse community and encourage local people to apply for the large variety of roles that are available within the Force, from volunteers and police officers to emergency call handlers and senior leadership positions.

Assistant Chief Officer Jo Mosley said: “I was thrilled to see so many people at the anniversary celebration. The slide show of photos from the last year perfectly illustrated just how successful the project has been so far to help us engage with our diverse communities. It is important that this event took place during Black History Month to celebrate the Black heritage and culture of our own workforce and communities, while supporting this year’s theme to promote the future opportunities for young Black and ethnic people in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

The figures prove that working with our communities is having an impact - there are now over 50 per cent more ethnic officers in Dorset than three years ago, but we need many more to be fully representative of the diverse communities we serve and that is why this partnership is so important.”

Sarah Birch from Dorset Police’s Positive Action team said: “I am truly delighted with what we have achieved together in the first year through this joint endeavour. Our regular weekly sessions at the IAAC Community Hub have inspired more people to consider a career with Dorset Police for the first time. Over 20 candidates are currently applying for positions with the Force as a direct result of these sessions. I am certain that the partnership will continue to benefit everyone involved.”

Charmaine Beckles the IACC Community Hub Manager said: “The partnership has gone from strength-to-strength and it has been a real pleasure working alongside members of Dorset Police. I have seen how some of our regular attenders have benefited and grown in confidence. I am excited about the continuation of this project.”

You can find out more about Positive Action