Earlier this year, Devon & Cornwall Police was awarded a £1 million grant from the Home Office to deliver hotspot policing to public areas experiencing anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence.
The Government launched their Anti-social Behaviour Action Plan in 2023 with tools including hotspot policing. Evidence shows that taking a ‘hotspot’ approach, where uniformed police spend time at problem areas on a regular basis, reduces levels of crime.
The Force has identified an initial six locations across Devon and Cornwall: Barnstaple, Exeter, Newquay, Plymouth, Torquay and Truro. Crime data from the last few years was used to identify places where issues have been reported regularly so that patrols can be targeted precisely.
The funding supports an investment by the Force with 25 officers being posted into neighbourhood support teams. These teams will work with the established neighbourhood teams to provide additional focus tackling issues raised by our communities. With the Force investment into neighbourhood policing and the additional funding, residents and visitors in these areas will feel greater police presence.
Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew QPM, the Force’s lead for local policing, said: “We launched Op Loki last year with the intention of bringing targeted, highly visible neighbourhood policing to the Force’s Safer Streets funded areas. Since then, our local policing teams have continued to use Op Loki to tackle local issues and forge stronger relationships with their communities.
“This funding gives us the opportunity to reiterate our commitment to neighbourhood policing and expand our impact into new areas. With the funds, we will work closely with partners to implement a range of activities, including street wardens to tackle ASB. I always encourage people to report ASB, so we can ensure our attention is focussed on what is impacting the lives of our communities.”
Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “The public have told me that anti-social behaviour and serious violence are a top concern to them which is why I have made them a priority in my Police and Crime Plan.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe in the place where they live and work, and these issues blight communities and have a serious and long-lasting impact on people affected by them.
“This funding is a much-needed investment in ensuring communities most affected by antisocial behaviour and serious violence see police officers and street wardens getting to grips with persistent problems in their area and helping residents to feel safe and secure.”
The additional patrols began Wednesday 1 May and will run until April 2025.
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