Long lasting and impactful change can only be created by people working together with a clear goal in mind. The path to achieving that vision may, at times, may be bumpy but the journey is always a lot smoother when everyone collaborates rather than working separately in the hope of achieving the same goal. 

A perfect example of how that works in practice is the Street Focus partnership my office is leading in Camborne. We have teamed up with Devon & Cornwall Police, Cornwall Council, Camborne Town Council, Camborne BID and Cornwall College to improve safety and address issues such as antisocial behaviour. 

I visited the town last summer and was overwhelmed by a collective desire to make life better for everyone in Camborne and the great work already being done to make it happen. I offered to help with that transformation and in October I officially launched Street Focus Camborne following a successful project in Torquay that has been running since 2024. 

Great work already being carried out in Camborne has included additional patrols through hotspot policing, a dedicated ASB officer, several closure orders, criminal behaviour orders and warrants being issued, youth work, a derelict building being secured for demolition and the introduction of business crime reduction solution UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) which has now merged with the National Retail Crime Alliance (NRCA). 

Earlier this month I returned to Camborne to see how things are progressing. My first stop off was Camborne Police Station to see the return of police officers and staff in the building after renovation works which are nearing completion. I was also pleased to hear how the community has been benefiting from its police enquiry office which I reopened in 2024. 

I was then invited to attend Cornwall College Camborne for a tour and was blown away by the amazing learning that takes place on this and its other campuses across Cornwall. I had the privilege of meeting students who are making the most of its specialist vocational training courses which are the widest range offered in Cornwall across all its sites. 

It is clear to see why it has been rated as an ‘outstanding’ provider of education because the facilities are second to none. A real sense of community and belonging was evident and the great opportunities available are providing young people with a positive and fulfilling future.  

The purpose of my visit was to hear about some of the challenges and issues the college and its students are facing and what can collectively be done to address them as part of Street Focus Camborne. 

Students told me about not feeling safe in the town both during the day and night, particularly among young women, and how they avoid certain areas in fear of coming to harm. This cannot continue to be ‘the norm’ and it is reassuring to see everyone working together to do our best to make young people feel safe again. 

I am grateful to all those who took the time to complete my ongoing Young Voices in Policing survey. One fifth (21%) said they had contacted police in the past 18 months. The most common crimes experienced or witnessed in that time were drug use (8.2%), fights and assaults (7.4%), threats or intimidation (7.4%), dangerous driving (7.4%), and shoplifting (7.1%).  

Worryingly, almost half said they were worried about drug use in their age group (42%) and more than half (54%) were worried about alcohol use. Tackling drugs and alcohol are among the key priorities in my police and crime plan. 

It was encouraging to hear some of the great plans the college has in the pipeline to improve life for students and the wider community within the town and reduce crime. These include obtaining funding for an ASB officer based on site at the college and setting up a hot desk within its cafe area for members of the local neighbourhood policing team to engage and build relationships with students. My office is looking to assist with this by giving funding to Safer Camborne partnership and letting them decide how the money is best spent. 

My office is also exploring a number of different funding options with the partnership, including the continuation of part funding of Camborne ASB officer Kay Smith, and potentially contributing funding to an ASB officer for Redruth who would also cover Pool where a Cornwall College is situated. Any leftover funding could potentially go towards a small community grant scheme for local grass roots organisations to bid for- with a focus on young people and diversionary activities. 

At the Camborne campus and our targeted efforts there, shoplifting offences near the college have been linked to some students but the reasons for this include deprivation. I heard inspiring stories of how students have or are overcoming difficulties and I hope a better relationship with the police and other agencies will further help resolve any issues they are experiencing.  

My office is exploring how restorative justice service Make Amends, which receives funding from the OPCC, can help connect retailers and offenders – where appropriate – to resolve harm from crime and understands its impact. 

I remain fully committed to investing funds from my office into Street Focus Camborne to recreate a community that everyone can be proud of and I look forward to visiting again later this year to see the difference those funds are making.