Dorset Police are urging you to check whether you need to contact them before you report any incidents during this busy time of the year.

Call handlers receive thousands of calls asking for help which the police are unable to give, such as noisy neighbours and lost dogs.

So remember the slogan “When something’s wrong – Report it right” to ensure you get the best help from the most appropriate service and without taking up the time of police staff who may otherwise dealing with more urgent queries.

Chief Superintendent Gavin Dudfield, of Dorset Police, said: “We work extremely hard with our partners to provide the best possible service to people in the county, but we need members of the public to make sure they are reporting their issues to the right organisation.

“We see a significant number of calls reporting issues relating to parking, noisy neighbours and lost dogs which should be reported to the local council or other agencies.

“We want you to get the help you need as soon as possible and save you time. So, please try to speak with the right people from the start.”

Examples of concerns which police cannot help with include:

Of course, when there is an emergency or crime in progress, people should still call 999 and non-urgent incidents can be reported online via the police website at Report | Dorset Police or by calling 101.