FEARS are growing that crime levels in the Lyme Regis area will increase if community police teams are cut.

Dorset Police is proposing to reduce the number of safer neighbourhood teams in the Bridport section – incorporating Lyme, Charmouth and the Marshwood Vale – from five to three.

Some community officers would become patrol officers and the remaining SNT officers would cover a wider area.

The Lyme Regis SNT would take on most of the Marshwood Vale, including Charmouth, headed by the town’s community beat manager PC Richard Winward.

But a senior member of Dorset Police Authority is worried that the area – an estimated 80 square miles – is too large to cover effectively.

Vice-chairman Col Geoff Brierley, who is also county councillor for Marshwood Vale, has taken his concerns to Bridport section Inspector Caroline Naughton.

Col Brierley said: “I do believe it is too large an area.

“A lot of it is countryside but you have got two urban areas, Charmouth and Lyme Regis, which in themselves are quite a big thing to handle.

“I think the local community needs to be in agreement with what’s going on because we have had some very good policing up to the present with the Safer Neighbourhood Teams and we don’t want that to be reduced.”

Dorset Police said they consider SNTs to be the ‘bedrock’ of the force and are committed to ensuring every area is covered by an SNT officer.

A spokesman said since they were created several years ago, SNTs have not had a review.

But a recent analysis of crime numbers, public confidence and other social factors rated the Bridport section as ‘Low Crime – High Public Confidence’.

The spokesman said: “A further part of the review has been to ensure that we are tackling the specific threats and risks facing people and communities by adopting a problem solving approach, with the greatest level of resources focusing on those areas where the risk to people or communities is highest.”

Col Brierley said this means that more emphasis is being put on places like Bournemouth and Weymouth.

“I recognise in other places in Dorset there are problems where they need to beef up their SNTs,” he said. “In crime terms we are very lucky in this area but it will only remain that way if it’s properly policed.”

But the move would result in more patrol officers covering the area, which the police said would ensure SNTs can focus on community issues.

The spokesman said: “At this stage this is still a recommendation and has not been approved by Dorset Police.

“Some local residents will have seen a change to their safer neighbourhood officer and PCSOs, however, this is due to personnel changes within the teams.”

Insp Naughton is expected to meet with parish council leaders to brief them on the changes before a decision is made.