More than 2,000 hours of extra police patrols across Devon and Cornwall have resulted in 62 arrests during the first quarter of a hotspot policing initiative.
The scheme, which launched in May this year, aims to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and serious violence.
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez secured £1 million of Home Office funding to deliver additional police and street marshal patrols. Crime data was used to identify hotspots in 13 towns and cities across the peninsula.
In its first quarter, the initiative delivered 2,104 additional hours of police foot patrols across Barnstaple, Exeter, Newquay, Plymouth, Torquay and Truro. Hotspot policing aims to drive impactful community engagement. Officers have engaged with more than 8,591 members of the public, visited 265 premises in hotspot areas, held 12 ‘coffee with cops’ sessions and nine public engagement events.
Hotspot patrols place officers in the right place at the right time, enabling proactive policing. This has led to:
- 132 individual intelligence submissions.
- 62 arrests made.
- 70 stop searches leading to nine offensive weapons seized, more than 30 drug seizures, more than 35 instances of stolen goods being recovered and more than 30 seizures of alcohol.
- 31 Public Protection Notices (PPNs) or safeguarding referrals made.
- 37 Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) issued.
Chief Inspector Tim Evans, who heads up the project, said: “Hotspot policing is a proven methodology and the results across Devon and Cornwall so far confirm that high visibility patrols are effective. Officers are not only deterring and disrupting crime while out on patrol but actively engaging with the public. We have received fantastic feedback so far with residents happy to see more police on the streets.”
Newquay will see an uplift in patrols during the summer with funding available for daily patrols. In addition, funding has been made available for hotspot police patrols in Exmouth, Newton Abbot, Penzance and Paignton.
The patrols represent a multi-agency approach to improving community safety. Collaboration between local councils and the police has established street marshal patrols using the same proven methodology of hotspot policing. The street marshals will work alongside the police, sharing insights, partaking in joint patrols and reassuring the public with their uniformed presence.
Street marshal patrols are now live in Barnstaple, Bideford, Exeter, Exmouth, Newton Abbot, Newquay, Penzance, Plymouth, Truro and St Austell.
Commissioner Hernandez, who provided a further £200,000 in funding to help maximise the number of street marshal patrols, said: “I am pleased to see that the targeted approach of hotspot policing is having a real impact on ASB and serious violence already. While it’s clear these patrols are disrupting crime, it’s important not to overlook the wider impact of officers spending time on foot where the public want to see them.
“The addition of street marshals will only strengthen the work already underway to make our communities safer. I am confident they will provide valuable reassurance and assistance to individuals and businesses alike.”
Hotspot policing forms part of a wider Street Focus project run by the Commissioner’s office and works with a number of partners to tackle issues in the community. You can find out more at street-focus.co.uk.
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