While we are one of the lowest crime rate areas in the country and recorded anti-social behaviour has never been so low, every survey I do and people I speak to this is one of the biggest issues raised with me. So I know policing and local authorities have not got it right yet.
Anti-social behaviour can blight communities on a daily basis and affect our quality of life. So in response to setting it as a priority in the Police and Crime Plan, Devon and Cornwall Police have created and delivered Operation Loki to focus on persistent areas of anti-social behaviour and will be doing more of these multiple weeks of action.
The Government has recently committed £1million of funding from April 2024 to support 'hotspot' policing in Devon and Cornwall. While I have funded a support service for victims of anti-social behaviour. One of the first in the country. Helping you get support and making sure your problems are being dealt with.
I have also funded £300,000 worth of CCTV improving 250 cameras across our area from St Ives to Torbay since I took office.
I will continue to focus on this issue with more help to local areas to reduce anti-social behaviour and helping local authorities enforce their Public Space Protection Orders. These Orders help the police and local authorities to tackle it more robustly.
The street marshal schemes created through Safer Streets funding have been successful and local authorities want to continue with this. I will endeavour to commit to sustaining this reassuring uniformed presence on our streets preventing anti-social behaviour escalating.
I know I have work to do with local authorities as this report: Out of Order, from the Local Government Ombudsman highlights that they need to do more.