Enhanced Police Presence in Anti-Social Hotspots Extended

The continuation of additional police patrols, initially implemented over the summer to address areas prone to anti-social conduct, has been confirmed. According to Devon and Cornwall Police, these patrols were initiated in specific areas of Exmouth and Penzance between July and September, following the allocation of funds enabling officers to conduct foot patrols. The police force reported that these patrols, supported by street marshals from local councils, resulted in 15 arrests, 34 public protection notices or safeguarding referrals, and responses to 86 antisocial behaviour incidents across the two towns. Authorities stated that the initiative strategically targeted hotspots based on data and is scheduled to persist until March 2025. The force also indicated that Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez successfully obtained £1m in funding from the Home Office to support the hotspot policing efforts across 13 towns and cities within Devon and Cornwall. It was further noted that this scheme forms a component of the broader Street Focus project, and an additional £200,000 provided by the PCC has enhanced the quantity of collaborative patrols. Penzance sector Inspector Dee Evans commented that hotspot policing has proven highly effective and expressed satisfaction regarding the continuation of the patrols. “The response from the community has been fantastic – residents are pleased to see us out and about, plus businesses have reported feeling a difference with the patrols in place,” she added. Grant Leitch, Exmouth’s sector Inspector, stated that the patrols had been “profoundly reassuring” for all individuals. Mr Leitch said: “It has meant we do exactly what the good people of Exmouth want and indeed what we also want to prioritise – namely, to be on foot patrol, engaging with our community, preventing criminality and robustly policing those who transgress.” For updates, follow BBC Cornwall and BBC Devon on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.