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Custody and policing strategies scrutinised at commissioner’s latest accountability board 

Custody and policing strategies scrutinised at commissioner’s latest accountability board 

A new accountability board to ensure Devon & Cornwall Police is held to account has reconvened again to scrutinise further key performance areas, including services available to detainees while in custody and whether policing strategies are aligned with national priorities. 

The Commissioner’s Accountability Board, hosted monthly by Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Alison Hernandez, met on May 14. She has now issued a judgment of assurance to indicate whether improvement plans are required or not. It includes details of how she reached her decision on two specific areas of constabulary performance that were scrutinised. 

The first was the constabulary’s plans and delivery of the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) which sets out national threats which, in the Home Secretary’s view, are the biggest threat to public safety. It guides PCCs when issuing Police and Crime Plans. 

The national threats covered in the current SPR include violence against women and girls (VAWG), terrorism, public disorder, serious and organised crime (SOC), child sexual abuse, national cyber incidents and civil emergencies. 

Commissioner Hernandez’s judgment is she is ‘part-assured’ regarding both the constabulary’s current performance and the plans that are in place. 

She said: “Insufficient detail was provided in two of the areas to enable a complete, informed judgment to be made.” 

Devon and Cornwall Police will present further evidence to the Commissioner to allow full scrutiny of every component to show how it is delivering against the SPR. 

The second performance area discussed was the constabulary’s risk management of identified custody risks. Details were shared around plans that are already in place to ensure its custody provision is both safe and meets legal requirements. 

Commissioner Hernandez said: “Although assurance was provided regarding the operational management of the force’s custody centres, further detail is required concerning the access to, and availability of services to detainees while in custody.” 

Her judgment was ‘part-assured’ with more in-depth scrutiny planned in the near future. 

During the meeting, Chief Constable James Vaughan also gave an update on the police budget and financial performance, recent homicides and serious crimes, as well as areas of concern and success.   

Responding to her latest statement of assurance following the Commissioner’s Accountability Board meeting, he said: “The force provides safe and legal detention for people arrested across Devon, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly. This will remain our primary concern, however, providing safe and legal custody provision across the current estate, some of which requires refurbishment, provides an ongoing resilience and efficiency challenge. The current estate provision therefore requires strategic review.  

“The force and the Commissioner have now agreed a set of Terms of Reference for this review, which is hoped to provide recommendations on our long-term provision.” 

The Commissioner has committed to sharing her levels of judgment with the public and external stakeholders following each meeting to increase transparency in policing and the criminal justice system. 

To view Commissioner Hernandez’s statement of assurance please visit Commissioner’s Accountability Board – Your voice in policing where the full board agenda can also be found.   

 

 

 

 

Successful ‘night bus’ scheme funded by Commissioner to run again this year 

Successful ‘night bus’ scheme funded by Commissioner to run again this year 

Night buses will continue to be available in North Devon and Torquay, plus on new routes in Plymouth and Exeter on Saturday nights until the end of the year.  

Following the success in the summer and Christmas of 2024, Devon & Cornwall Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office are working with partners to continue running night buses across the two counties, providing seven new routes in addition to the four existing routes from last year.  

Night bus services, provided by Stagecoach in Devon and First Bus in Newquay, will operate on Saturday evenings from May throughout 2025 in a bid to reduce drink and drug-related incidents.

The buses will also be available in Devon on Friday, December 19, and New Year’s Eve. 

The North Devon, Torquay, Plymouth and Exeter buses will run between May 31 and New Year’s Eve 2025, and a longer Newquay service until September 6.  

The services have been set up by Devon & Cornwall Police and funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) with support from Devon County Council, North Devon Council, Torridge District Council, Ilfracombe Town Council, Torbay Council, Cornwall Council, Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, Cornwall Air Ambulance and Newquay BID. 

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “I am delighted that my office will once again fund this fantastic service and help even more people get home safely after a night out. I need people to use these services to show it is commercially viable to ensure it becomes a mainstay of having a night out.  

“The extension of the night bus service to include seven new routes will be a fantastic boost to our evening and night time economy, encouraging residents and visitors alike to relax and enjoy socialising in Exeter, Plymouth, Newquay, Torbay and North Devon without worrying about the expense of a taxi, or having a designated driver. 

“Night buses in Devon and Cornwall have been proven to be a great success, reducing crime and antisocial behaviour and making people feel safer – with the added benefit of allowing them to get home for less than the cost of a pint or a glass of wine.” 

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said: “With partnership funding and support we have managed to re-launch a tested and successful initiative. The provision of improved night-time transport will ensure people, and particularly women and girls, arrive home safely having enjoyed their evening out with friends.  

“We have seen that this also reduces antisocial behaviour and has a positive impact across our communities. I am pleased to see so many dedicated routes with such a wide reach into our communities”.  

Peter Knight, Managing Director of Stagecoach South West said: “We are proud to be part of an initiative that provides a safe and affordable evening travel option for customers. It is a great example of our ongoing commitment to serving the needs of residents and where required working with partners to achieve that goal. We hope to see a similar positive impact for the community that has been seen in Torquay and North Devon previously.” 

Simon Goff, Managing Director at First Bus South said: “We’re proud to be working alongside Devon & Cornwall Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner to deliver night bus services in Newquay again this year. Last year’s service was incredibly well received, and we’re excited to see it return and expand. Providing safe, affordable and reliable transport late at night helps keep communities safe and supports the local night time economy.” 

Tickets for the services cost a maximum of £3 for a single journey, and full timetables are available on the provider websites: 

Stagecoach, covering Devon – Niterider | Stagecoach 

First Bus, covering Newquay – Timetable N1 

I’m helping Torbay businesses to play their part in reducing crime

I’m helping Torbay businesses to play their part in reducing crime

Retail crime and in particular theft and shoplifting is a serious concern across our communities — not only for the businesses directly affected, but for residents, visitors, and anyone who wants to see vibrant, thriving high streets.   

It’s not just about financial loss. Crime and antisocial behaviour in our town centres damage confidence, discourage footfall, and impact people’s sense of safety.  

That’s why I’m proud to announce the launch of a year-long pilot in Torbay, funded by my office, to provide businesses with free access to the UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) Business Crime Reduction Solution.   

This innovative initiative gives local traders a powerful, user-friendly platform to report shoplifting, antisocial behaviour and other criminal activity quickly and effectively.  

The UKPAC system — accessible via a secure online portal or smartphone app — enables businesses to submit incident reports, share intelligence, and work collectively to tackle persistent and repeat offenders. This shared approach allows police to build stronger, more detailed evidence files and to target their resources where they will have the greatest impact and reduces the time police officers have to spend building legal case files for court. 

This initiative forms part of my wider Street Focus: Torquay programme, a multi-agency effort involving Devon & Cornwall Police, Torbay Council, SWISCo and others, focused on addressing the deep-rooted issues affecting Castle Circus and the town centre more broadly.  

Retail crime is not an isolated issue. It affects entire communities. When a business experiences repeated shoplifting or abuse of staff, it takes a toll — not just on profitability, but on morale, safety, and the willingness of businesses to invest in our towns. That’s why I see supporting our business community as a core part of my mission to keep Devon and Cornwall safe.  

With UKPAC, we are empowering traders to be part of the solution. Rather than asking small business owners to fill out time-consuming reports or chase follow-ups, this system simplifies the process. In just a few clicks, incidents can be logged, images and footage uploaded, and relevant information shared across the network.  

More importantly, this information doesn’t just sit in a file — it becomes actionable intelligence. Patterns emerge. Repeat offenders can be identified more quickly. And crucially, it enables high-quality case files to be built that improve the likelihood of prosecution and conviction.  

Businesses that sign up to UKPAC also benefit from access to discounted crime prevention tools and services — providing further support to protect their staff and premises. It’s a joined-up, practical approach to crime reduction that fits hand in glove with our broader partnership work in Torbay.  

As Gareth Lewis, chairman of UKPAC, rightly said, the impact of business crime goes well beyond financial loss. It undermines confidence and can erode the very fabric of a community. By improving how we report, track, and respond to these crimes, we are sending a clear message: crime against businesses in Torbay will not be tolerated.  

Inspector Rob Harvey and his neighbourhood policing team are already seeing the benefits of working with partners to tackle the issues affecting the high street. By incorporating data from UKPAC into their patrol planning and enforcement activity, they can target their efforts more effectively and respond faster to emerging problems.  

It’s also worth remembering there are other similar schemes available for traders in other areas. For example, Exeter Business Against Crime has a successful crime reporting platform that has driven great results in the fight against shoplifting in the city centre. For more information visit https://ebac.org.uk/ 

This is just the beginning. My vision is that this pilot in Torbay will serve as a blueprint for other areas across Devon and Cornwall. We want to see our town centres bustling, welcoming and safe — places where businesses can thrive and where residents and visitors feel proud to spend their time.  

If you are a business owner in Torbay and have been affected by crime or antisocial behaviour, I urge you to sign up. It takes just a few minutes to get started, but the impact could be long-lasting. Together, we can build a stronger, safer, and more resilient community.  

For more information about the Street Focus: Torquay project, visit www.street-focus.co.uk/torquay  

For more information about UKPAC and to sign up visit https://uk-pac.com/ 

Police and Crime Commissioner funds innovative business crime reduction pilot in Torbay

Police and Crime Commissioner funds innovative business crime reduction pilot in Torbay

Businesses across Torbay are being asked to sign up to a free, powerful tool in the fight against retail crime, thanks to a year-long pilot funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez.

A free 12-month subscription to the UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) Business Crime Reduction Solution is being offered to traders which promises a quicker and easier way for them to report issues such as shoplifting, antisocial behaviour and violence to police.

The initiative forms part of the wider Street Focus: Torquay project — a multi-agency effort to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB) and improve community safety in the town.

The UKPAC system is an online portal, also available as a smartphone app, that enables businesses to easily report crimes and share intelligence, empowering communities to work together against persistent and repeat offenders.

Police can then access this information to build stronger evidence files, increasing the chances of successful prosecutions and reducing crime on the high street.

Commissioner Hernandez said: “Retail crime is not just a business issue — it impacts the whole community, from safety and investment to the vibrancy of our town centres.

“This pilot gives traders in Torbay the tools to take a stand and work together with police and partners to hold offenders to account and make our streets safer.

“If you’re a business that’s being affected by shoplifting or antisocial behaviour, or if you’re worried about the effect crime in general is having on the high street, please sign up. It takes just a couple of minutes to report and UKPAC will help the police to build a picture and bring persistent offenders to justice.”

Key benefits of joining the UKPAC network include:

  • Quick and easy crime reporting through an online portal
  • Greater intelligence sharing across businesses and authorities
  • Targeting of prolific and repeat offenders
  • Higher-quality evidence leading to more successful prosecutions
  • Access to discounted crime prevention services through UKPAC partners

Gareth Lewis, UKPAC chairman said: “We’re proud to be working alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall on this forward-thinking initiative to tackle business crime in Torbay.

“This pilot project gives local businesses free access to UKPAC’s crime reporting and intelligence-sharing system, making it easier to submit incidents and build a clearer picture of the offenders causing the most harm across the area.

“The impact of business crime goes far beyond financial loss. It affects staff morale, customer confidence, and the overall sense of safety in our communities. By improving how incidents are reported and evidence is shared, we can support the police to take faster, more targeted action and reduce the disruption and harm caused to local businesses.

“We look forward to supporting businesses in Torbay and helping to create a safer, stronger community for all.”

The UKPAC initiative is part of the Street Focus: Torquay programme, which brings together the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Devon & Cornwall Police, Torbay Council, SWISCo and other partners to address the deep-rooted issues affecting Castle Circus and the wider town centre.

Rob Harvey, sector Inspector for Torquay, said: “We are looking forward to working with UKPAC to send a clear message that crime against businesses in Torbay will not be tolerated.

“We want to respond to the crimes and issues that are causing the most harm to our community, the information and intelligence we will get from UKPAC will be invaluable to direct our teams and achieve better outcomes more quickly.  

“Our Street Focus work continues to be a priority for the Torquay Neighbourhood Team and working with the business alongside UKPAC will further strengthen our ambitions to provide a safe town centre for everyone.”

For more information about Street Focus: Torquay, visit: www.street-focus.co.uk/torquay

For more information about UKPAC and to sign up visit https://uk-pac.com/ 

The life-changing impact of recipients of the Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme  

The life-changing impact of recipients of the Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme  

A huge difference is being made to the lives of people who need it most thanks to two grant schemes provided by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 

Each year, small voluntary and community organisations across the peninsular are invited to apply for grants of up to £5,000 for short-term projects, initiatives and activities that directly impact communities in a positive way. 

Commissioner Alison Hernandez sets an annual theme based on local need and the key priorities set out within her Police and Crime Plan 2025-29 which are antisocial behaviour, serious violence, theft, and drugs and alcohol. 

An annual funding pot of £200,000 is available from the Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme as well as additional funding from the Police Property Act Fund which varies each year as it is funded by the sale of seized goods by the police. 

The Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme for 2024/25 saw 41 projects awarded funding. Of those, 29 were based in Devon and 12 in Cornwall projects. The themes were crime prevention initiatives to make community spaces safer, and projects focusing on offering education and/ or purposeful activities for people with antisocial drug and alcohol issues. 

The Police Property Act Fund funded 13 projects in Devon and eight in Cornwall, and the theme was prevention of violence against women and girls. 

Among the successful organisations awarded a grant in Cornwall for 2024/25 was Kernow Youth CIC, based at Fourway’s Children’s Centre in St Blazey. It is funded by National Lottery, Children in Need and UK Youth to build resilience and wellbeing for eight to 24-year-olds. 

It has received £5,000 from the Police Property Act fund and was a previous recipient of £4,000 from the Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme in 2022. The latest funding is being used to help youth workers deliver five projects with both young women and men to prevent and raise awareness of sexual violence against women and girls.

Topics being explored include sexual harassment and assault, positive relationships, coercive control, consent, pornography awareness as well as providing a support system for victims of violence and abuse. The work is being carried out in an appropriate way with every age group it caters for. 

Senior youth worker Lisa Roach said: “It’s scary that in our young women groups, they had no idea what stalking is. We have also had quite a lot of discussions on how much they should share on social media as they seem to share everything as the world they live in is completely different than ours.  

“They are now more aware and are starting to think more about what they’re doing.” 

In total, Kernow Youth CIC runs 12 projects ranging from a young mums under 25 group to youth outreach. It also benefits from previous members now returning as volunteers to give something back to the community, and others going on to pursue careers in youth work.  

The long-term dream is for the youth service to have its own building to run more sessions rather than being restricted by multi-purpose community premises. 

Vast youth work is also carried out in another part of Cornwall by The Core Youth and Community Centre, based in purpose-built premises in the grounds of Fountain Head House School in Saltash. Its vital and valued hub is a safe, inspiring place for young people to connect, engage in sporting, creative and leisure activities, and to access essential youth services. 

It is open seven days a week and its facilities include a sports hall with climbing wall, a fully equipped kitchen used to host its Grub Club, art room, spacious garden with a fire pit and a new boxing gym that will open next month.  

Thanks to a recent grant of £5,000 from the Commissioners Community Grant Scheme, and working in partnership with Groundwork South, it has launched a pilot project for Year 11s who are at risk of exclusion by offering them two days per week alternative provision.  

It has been running for 12 weeks with 16 teenagers enrolled on the programme. They are taught more practical educational as well as functional skills, and will soon be benefitting from the expertise of volunteer members from Saltash Community Shed who are now based in a portacabin on the site. 

The Core also received a grant of almost £5,000 from the Police Property Act Fund in 2023. 

Youth worker co-ordinator Charlotte Carpenter said: “Our youth programme is very reliant on grant funding as we keep the cost of our sessional very low so that everyone can come here and use it as a safe space.  

“All the pots of money we receive are a lifeline; we really wouldn’t be here be without them. To have received two lots of £5,000 from both the Commissioner’s grant schemes is massive for us as it has meant we have been able to run our projects. 

“We are always thinking of different things we can do with them to raise their self-esteem.” 

Funding of £5,000 from the Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme was awarded to newly formed group The Sew and Sews Cornwall CIC in St Austell. It is run by local sewing business owner Gill Birchall who teaches industrial sewing workshops for local people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction and those in contact with criminal justice system to help rehabilitate them and give essential skills for the workplace. 

Working in partnership with recovery agencies and other local prescribing organisations, the project addresses the critical need for vocational and therapeutic support for those recovering from addiction and helps them build a meaningful future. 

Grants have also been awarded to many projects in Devon ranging from addiction support to youth services. They include £5,000 awarded to Addicts to Athletes to improve access to fitness activities for those currently or previously affected by addiction in Devon, and more than £3,500 to Exeter Street Pastors to continue to provide support to intoxicated and inebriated people in Exeter, particularly females who might be at risk from predatory behaviour. 

Commissioner Hernandez said: “The aim of the grants schemes is to build resilience in our communities to fight crime and anti-social behaviour while using the money obtained through the seizure of assets from criminals. 

“Across Devon and Cornwall, communities are benefitting from the incredible work organisations and volunteers provide to those most in need of all ages. At a time when so many charities and organisations are financially struggling, grants are more essential than ever to ensure the good work they do continues. 

“It’s heartwarming to hear how our small grants scheme is continuing to make such a difference and is helping to create safe, resilient and connected communities. I would encourage small groups and organisations to apply for the next round of funding in the autumn.” 

The grant schemes are managed both in Devon and Cornwall by Devon Community Foundation and Cornwall Community Foundation respectively. Applications for this year’s grants will open in early September. Further details will be shared at a later date by both foundations. 

Commissioner’s Business Community Champion Award finalists revealed  

Commissioner’s Business Community Champion Award finalists revealed  

Being a Torbay resident, it gives me a great sense of pride to once again have the privilege and honour of supporting the Torbay Weekly Naturally Inspiring Business Awards 2025. 

I sponsor the Business Community Champion Award which recognises those who work above and beyond their day-to-day role in keeping Torbay a safe place to live, work and visit.  

As in previous years, I have been very impressed with the high calibre of volume of entries in this category with every applicant contributing something amazing and worthwhile within the local community. 

A judging breakfast took place on May 9, attended by representatives of sponsors and – after much deliberation – three finalists have been chosen for the Business Community Champion Award: 

  • Unleashed Theatre Company
  • Torbay United Licensed Drivers Association (TULDA) 
  • Pier Point Bar & Restaurant 

TULDA is a not-for-profit company that has been set up by the founder of Jacqui First Airport Taxis for licensed taxi drivers and taxi office staff of Torbay, including Hackney and private hire drivers. They collectively support each other with a wide range of issues from sharing road works and closures information to campaigning for better training for drivers and school escorts.  

Worryingly, TULDA has shared with me that there is a growing number of verbal and physical assaults against drivers, along with unacceptable levels of antisocial behaviour (ASB) incidents being witnessed. 

My role as Police Crime Commissioner is to ensure that everyone’s voices are heard and bring about much-needed change. Your feedback has led to our Street Focus project making meaningful improvements in Torquay town centre through partnership collaborations. 

I am excited to soon be announcing a new pilot funded by my office that will support Torbay local businesses to report retail crime and ASB more effectively. It is just one of several initiatives aimed at reducing antisocial behaviour and cracking down on drink and drug use in Torbay, including hotspot patrols, a mobile police station and collaborative efforts with Torbay Council such as introducing Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to prohibit alcohol consumption in designated zones. 

Commendable work around alcohol and night time safety can be seen at Pier Point Bar & Restaurant in Torquay. It has been shortlisted for my Business Community Champion Award in recognition of putting community safety and wellbeing at the centre of everything it does.  

Internally, it operates a strict no lone working policy to reduce risks, especially late at night, and even pays for staff taxis home after 11.30pm to ensure they get home safely. 

Externally, it has joined wider safety initiatives, including gaining official Shout-Up! venue accreditation, participating in the Safer Women At Night scheme, and discreetly offering the Ask for Angela campaign which has been used on one occasion. 

Third finalist, Unleashed Theatre Company, has worked at the heart of Torbay’s community for more than two decades, using theatre and creative arts to reach those most vulnerable — including people affected by homelessness, addiction, mental illness, or social exclusion. 

Its huge spectrum of successes ranges from a weekly drama group to a free community choir, and from making an award-winning film based on the real stories of four participants to staging four major “homeless musicals” which raised more than £19,000 for a local hostel. 

Those who were once rough sleeping, battling addiction, or struggling after being released from prison have been helped by Unleashed Theatre Company to rebuild and lead fulfilling lives. Last year they received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. 

I wish every finalist in all 12 categories of the awards the best of luck and thank them for all they do to make Torbay a better place to live. The winners will be revealed during the finals night at the Riviera International Conference Centre on June 11. 

I will be attending to present my Business Community Champion Award and am looking forward to what promises to be a memorable evening to celebrate and recognise the achievements of fantastic businesses and individuals in Torbay. 

It is also important to acknowledge the great work that is being carried out across other areas of Devon, as well as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It is only united together that we can bring about change, reduce crime and feel safer on our streets and in our communities and homes. 

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