Dorset Police are working with Bournemouth University students looking at how they can implement a project which aims to create safer neighbourhoods.
‘Saferhoods’ is the brainchild of four undergraduate students who came up with the project as part of an assessment and presented it to local Police Officers. Combining elements from across the marketing mix, it encourages local people to become more active and engaged in their communities.
54 student groups presented their projects to an expert panel, with the ‘Saferhoods’ team impressing most. Among the judges were John Shave and Tim Stearn of the Association of Dorset Watchers, Sergeant Guy Nicholas of Dorset Police and Donna Atkins, Dorset Police Media and Communications Officer.
The students were all given a live brief to create an integrated marketing campaign to promote safer neighbourhoods and gave them a practical way to apply theory and learn in a realistic scenario. The event was facilitated by BU’s in-house business engagement consultant, Liam Toms.
The winning group were James Harrison, Rianna Hall, Adrien Abbruzzino and Dominic Needler, who are all studying in the Faculty of Media & Communications.
James Harrison, one of the students involved, described the project, saying it, “focussed on bringing the community together, and was designed to encourage Bournemouth residents to become more active and engaged in their local community.”
He went on to say, “It uses various complimentary marketing tactics such as advertising, PR and social media to reach different people, from teenagers to retirees.”
Sergeant Nicholas commented, “I was very impressed with the presentation around future engagement of communities into building stronger and safer communities.
“I speak for the panel when I say that they delivered a comprehensive overview of the project, taking into consideration all groups and how everyone could benefit.”
Dorset Police are now looking at how they might implement the campaign in the local area.
