Residents in three neighbouring areas of Cornwall are set to benefit from a significant two year investment of £200,000 to help tackle street crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB) and provide better opportunities and support for young people.
The funding, provided by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is being spent in Camborne, Redruth and Pool which have been identified as areas requiring extra support to improve the communities for all those who live, visit and work there.
The funding has been transferred to Safer Cornwall – a community safety partnership made up of statutory organisations – to strengthen and build upon existing and new plans over the next two years. These include:
- The continuation of an ASB officer in Camborne
- A new ASB officer in Redruth
- Funding an existing Youth Substance Misuse Worker covering all three areas
- Creating a Wider Youth Programme
- Camborne community activities
Camborne has already been chosen by the OPCC as the second area for its Street Focus project. It was first launched in Torquay in June 2024 and aims to improve safety in towns and city centres.
Street Focus Camborne began in November 2025 with a vision of bringing partners together to develop some of the great work already underway to improve safety and reduce crime.
The town already benefits from an ASB officer, jointly funded by the OPCC and Camborne Town Council, who holds Community Safety Accreditation Scheme accreditation and intervenes early in emerging cases of ASB, including street drinking. This is in addition to high-visibility hotspot policing patrols and Street Marshals who are part funded by the OPCC.
Camborne is part of the PubWatch scheme which enables hospitality services to work together to reduce problems in and around their premises.
Under the new plans, a youth programme is yet to be set up but will be aimed at diverting young people away from ASB. Money set aside for community activities are also yet to be confirmed but possible plans could include hosting a community event and creating a local campaign that will benefit residents.
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “One of the things that makes Camborne so great is a willingness to work together to create positive changes that will benefit everyone.
“That teamwork has already resulted in reducing crime and making ther streets safer and through my Street Focus project and the additional funding from my office, I am hoping that even more can be achieved, as well as in Redruth and Pool too.
“For lasting change, it is vital that we also focus on supporting young people to help them make the right choices and give them the opportunities they need to succeed in life.”
Cllr Thalia Marrington, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health at Cornwall Council, said: “It’s great news that the OPCC has chosen Camborne, Pool and Redruth for its Street Focus project. The Safer Cornwall Partnership has been working hard to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour across the area and this significant funding boost will allow us to make the three communities even safer.
“Prevention is key so I am particularly excited to hear about the plans for a youth programme to help divert young people away from crime and antisocial behaviour.
“It is one of our priorities to create strong, safe and vibrant communities and this funding will help us to achieve this for residents in this area of Cornwall.”
Councillor James Ball, who represents Camborne Roskear and Tuckingmill Division, said: “We are really pleased to see the extra funding coming to the area. It will make a huge difference to us all working together to continue the hard work already started.
“Camborne has been so well supported and without this investment in the town, we would not have been able to see the improvements making it safer for everyone to live and visit the amazing town we have.”
To find out more about the Street Focus project and for updates about future work in Camborne, visit street-focus.co.uk