ASB

Mar192026

New scheme to lift lid on court cases in Devon

Members of the public are getting increased access to the details of criminal court cases in Devon thanks to an innovative project funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

A three-month pilot project operating since the start of the year has provided a dedicated news reporter to cover magistrates’ court proceedings in the region – and the scheme has now been extended for a further nine months.

The scheme, which has been delivered by Newsquest Media Group following a bidding process, has so far reported on more than 100 cases at Exeter Magistrates’ Court which may otherwise have gone unreported due to a reduction in the number of reporters attending court.

Cases covered in the first three months have included offences such as drug dealing, theft, possession of weapons, harassment, sexual assault, criminal damage, voyeurism, and drink and drug driving.

These stories have generated more than 100,000 page views on Newsquest websites alone.

The Criminal Justice Court Reporting Scheme was devised in conjunction with the Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB), a partnership which is chaired by the Commissioner and brings together various criminal justice organisations with the aim of improving the experiences of victims and witnesses and reducing reoffending rates.

News articles generated by the Criminal Justice Court Reporter are made available free-of-charge to any certified media organisation that wishes to publish them, with the BBC, ITV, Reach Plc, Global Radio and Bauer Media among those to have signed up to the scheme.

Newsquest reporter Isabelle Pinnock has been carrying out the role for the three-month pilot period and will continue in the position until the end of November 2026.

The pilot project is focused on proceedings in Exeter Crown Court, as well as a selection of magistrates’ courts across Devon.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Seeing justice served in our communities is vital for public confidence in both the police and the criminal justice system.

“Sadly, there are fewer news reporters covering court proceedings than there have been in previous decades, meaning many cases go completely unreported. Not only is this frustrating for the victims and communities involved, it also seriously reduces opportunities for the public to understand the criminal justice system.

“I am particularly pleased that this scheme focuses on magistrates’ courts. While many higher-profile crown court cases are widely publicised, magistrates’ proceedings often go under the radar – yet this is where so many areas of community concern are dealt with.

“Whether it’s violence, drug use, shoplifting, drink driving or nuisance behaviour, it’s vital we lift the lid on these incidents and are transparent about how they are dealt with.”

Diarmuid MacDonagh, Newsquest Regional Editor for Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, said: “Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done. The partnership between the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and Newsquest ensures that this important tenet of the criminal justice system is fulfilled.

“We are delighted to be taking part in this ground-breaking scheme. It has been enthusiastically received by our readership who feel reassured to see the work of criminal justice in action in their communities.”

The Criminal Justice Court Reporting scheme will run until the end of November 2026. For more information visit Local Criminal Justice Court Reporting Scheme – Your voice in policing

Any media outlets who wish to sign up to the scheme can do so by emailing Diarmuid MacDonagh on diarmuid.macdonagh@dorsetecho.co.uk

Mar162026

‘Fantastic work’ to tackle antisocial behaviour is applauded by Police and Crime Commissioner

opccAntisocial behaviour,Blog,Uncategorized

It is now nearly three years since councils across England were criticised for not doing enough to help victims of antisocial behaviour (ASB) by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO).

Its ‘Out of Order’ report in 2023 called for councils to fully understand and use the powers they have to provide better support for victims of ASB and for improvements to partnership working between agencies.

In Devon and Cornwall, councils have been doing just that and I’m extremely pleased to see the hard work being put in is paying off. By working alongside our local policing teams to tackle persistent ASB, councils are making great progress, and those ongoing efforts are now being seen within our communities.

ASB is not an issue that can be handled just by one agency; it needs addressing from all angles. Police enforcement, such as hot spot policing, is just one important piece of the bigger picture.

My office has recently posted some incredibly insightful reels on our social media platforms showing the impact of hot spot patrols in our towns and cities. Just one example is in Truro. The fantastic work being carried out by Cornwall Council ASB Caseworker, Stephen Lennon, was highlighted by showing how he plays a key role in co-ordinating Truro’s joined up response with police and other partners to tackle persistent offenders.

In the five years that Stephen has been in post, 16 Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) have been issued within Truro. One of these orders can make specific behaviours a criminal offence for that person only. For example, one man in Truro is currently prohibited from entering certain roads or wearing face masks for three years, and will be arrested if caught doing so.

Three orders each year might seem small numbers but if you delve deeper, it is evident that thanks to close partnership working, shop staff and residents report noticeable improvements over the past couple of years.

The decision to impose these orders on someone is not taken lightly because it is life limiting. They are the final tool in Stephen’s armoury to deal with repeat offenders causing significant harm and are only used when all other attempts to engage and change a person’s behaviour have failed.

The ultimate aim is reducing ASB and protecting the public, but Stephen and colleagues must balance that with an individual’s right to live freely. Before getting to the point where a person is given a CBO by a magistrate, they are issued with ASB stage 1 and 2 letters, followed by Community Protection Warnings and then Community Protection Notices.

For an order to be granted, the behaviour must be persistent and proven the punitive measures are proportionate to the level of harm inflicted on others.

Unlike ASB Orders (ASBOs) which came before, Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) often include a requirement for positive actions from a person as well as punitive conditions. For instance, mandating someone to attend counselling sessions.

Stephen always tries to work with perpetrators so they realise the impact of their actions, while also bringing in other agencies to support with housing, addiction and employment. If a person does not have those fundamental things sorted, a warning will not have a meaningful effect. It really involves a holistic and tailored approach to create long-lasting change.

In 80 per cent of cases involving young people committing ASB in Truro given a stage 1 warning, that initial letter was sufficient to stop further offending. Approximately 160 warnings have been distributed since 2021, to youths and adults combined.

On top of enforcement action, Stephen, rangers and police officers aim to identify issues while on hotspot patrols and implement problem solving measures. For example, on one of Truro’s busy town centre shopping streets, there were benches that were being used by large groups of street drinkers throughout the day which stopped others using them for more genuine reasons.

Stephen worked with Truro City Council to get them removed and since then, business owners near that area have reported an increase in footfall, and shop staff have felt safer while opening and closing.

I want to pass on my deep gratitude to Stephen, the local neighbourhood team and town rangers for the strong work happening in Truro to keep residents and visitors safe, which is being replicated in places over Devon and Cornwall.

Even so-called ‘low level’ nuisance behaviour, if repeated regularly, can take a toll on an someone’s mental health. If people are apprehensive about visiting our town centres, businesses suffer which, in turn, impacts our region’s economy. The consequences of ASB reach further than first meets the eye.

That is why I have been determined to reduce this behaviour by investing in multi-agency Street Focus projects in Torquay and Camborne, by funding a dedicated lawyer to help bring cases against perpetrators and by putting money towards organisations that support addiction recovery across Devon and Cornwall.

ASB affects us all at some point in our day or life from a direct impact on people’s actual safety to our feelings of safety. It is also the issue that people most frequently tell me they want the police to prioritise.

I certainly acknowledge there are challenges which Truro residents are rightly worried about, and I know these concerns are echoed in towns up and down the South West. Statistics show our region is still one of the safest, but we cannot sit back and admire our successes. We must continue to identify offenders and act against them and carry on this upward trajectory. That is what I will work with the force and partners to achieve during 2026 and beyond.

Mar132026

One death is too many, Commissioner tells serious violence summit

opccNews

We must not tolerate people, including children, living in fear, Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez told partners at a Serious Violence Summit in Plymouth on Monday, March 9.

The event, hosted by the Commissioner, brought together senior leaders from Devon & Cornwall Police, local authorities, the fire service, probation service and the NHS to look at ways to tackle violence across the peninsula.

The summit was held a week after the arrival in Plymouth of the Knife Angel, a striking 27ft (8m) sculpture created from more than 100,000 seized or surrendered blades which is situated near the Civic Centre in Armada Way until March 30.

Attendees were welcomed by High Sheriff of Devon Caroline Harlow, who chaired the event which she described as a ‘pertinent and important’ gathering aimed at combating the ‘scourge of serious violence in our society’.

Through presentations and workshops, those present had the opportunity to examine current evidence of serious violence and its drivers, hear expert advice on early years prevention, identify areas for improvement, strengthen collaboration and develop a collective strategic focus.

Speaking at the event, Commissioner Hernandez said one death from violence is too many.

She said: “Children living in fear is too much, and this isn’t the way we want to be in our society across our two counties.

“This summit is about making sure that all our partners get involved because they have a duty under the law to collaborate to tackle the problem.”

“My office will be collating all the ideas which were put forward during the event and will use them to inform decisions about how the government’s Serious Violence funding will be spent.”

The Home Office has awarded Devon and Cornwall a Serious Violence Grant of £657,000 which is distributed among upper tier local authorities to deliver the Serious Violence Duty in 2026-27. The Duty is a legal requirement introduced under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, compelling key agencies to work together to prevent and reduce serious violence.

It requires these bodies to share data, assess local needs, and develop strategies aimed at tackling issues such as knife crime, gun crime, and other forms of serious harm.

In addition to this, Devon and Cornwall is one of 27 policing areas that will be receiving knife crime concentration funding in the 2026-27 financial year. The £487,000 funding will develop targeted interventions to support the communities most affected by knife crime.

Serious violence is a priority in the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan 2025-29. You can find out more about how the plan sets the direction for Devon & Cornwall Police to tackle this issue here: https://devonandcornwall-pcc.gov.uk/police-and-crime-plan

Mar122026

Our flag is for everyone, says police hate crime advisor

opccNews

A hate crime advisor to the police has called for people to ‘love each other’ and warned against the misuse of national symbols in the latest episode of Your VIP: Your Voice in Policing.

The fourth episode of the podcast, which comes from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, was recorded on location in Barnstaple and focuses on hate crime and community cohesion.

Devon County Councillor Syed Jusef, who has advised Devon & Cornwall Police on hate crime for more than 10 years and has lived in in North Devon for more than 20 years, spoke about the impact that displaying flags can have on communities.

He said: “Our flag is for everyone. It is not for just one person or group. We all love the flag. This is our national flag; it’s for all of us. We all fight for that flag, and if we play cricket or football, we are all united for that flag.”

Speaking about recent tensions linked to flags being placed in public spaces, Cllr Jusef, who became the first North Devon District Councillor from an ethnic minority background, warned that such actions risk dividing communities rather than bringing people together.

He also raised concerns about people putting their lives at risk placing flags on lampposts, citing the death in Bristol last year of a man who fell from a ladder putting up flags at night.

In the 12 months to November 2025, 2,437 hate crimes were recorded across Devon and Cornwall, up by 5% on the previous year. The majority were motivated by racial prejudice, followed by sexual orientation and disability.

Reflecting on these statistics, Cllr Jusef said he thought the real picture is likely to be much worse and said his message to the community was that everyone should work together to make things better.

He said: “We must forget about the politics. Whatever your colour, your gender, or your race, we are all human beings, and we should work together, live together and love each other to make it a better and safer community.”

Also speaking on the podcast, North Devon police Inspector Andy Wills said 53 hate crimes were recorded in Barnstaple last year, one fewer than the previous year.

He said that as part of his hate crime oversight role in Devon & Cornwall Police, each case is individually reviewed to ensure the force’s response is appropriate, adding: “In common with much of the country, hate crime here is a real issue, but not a particular issue.”

Inspector Wills also spoke about the importance of cohesion in a town growing in size and diversity, saying: “We all want to live in a cohesive community, and sometimes world events can lead to tensions being expressed locally, which shouldn’t affect us as neighbours.”

As an independent advisor, Councillor Jusef helps bolster the connection between the ethnic minority community and the police, playing a vital role in helping those facing a language barrier to report crime to the police.

And as a councillor, he is also fighting for the safety and rights of the community at county level. After being elected to the Barnstaple North ward in 2025, in September the same year Councillor Jusef put a motion to Devon County Council calling for zero tolerance to hate crime.

He said: “It wasn’t an easy subject to bring to county level, but I was confident people would support me. Our community is becoming more diverse, with a good number of minority people living in North Devon, and I thought it was essential to bring that motion for their safety.

“They deserve to get respect. They’re living here legally, contributing to our economy, and deserve to be treated better.”

The episode also features voices from across Barnstaple, reflecting on what it is like to live and work in the town and how safe people feel.

Fuel station worker Mohammed, who moved to Barnstaple from Pakistan, spoke positively about his experience, saying: “I feel very safe and secure here. There is a lot of people helping, supporting, and I love this place.”

And GP registrar Hiyo described Barnstaple as a safe and welcoming place to live, highlighting the community atmosphere and visible police presence helping to keep crime levels low.

Your VIP – Your Voice in Policing is produced by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to give residents the opportunity to share their views directly with Commissioner Alison Hernandez and her office.

Visit https://www.buzzsprout.com/2597778 to listen to this episode and subscribe to the podcast on your preferred service. You can also watch the episode below or on YouTube here https://bit.ly/4sAxTrL.

If you have an idea for future themes, locations or guests, please contact the Commissioner’s office at comms@dc-pcc.gov.uk.

Mar102026

Policing protests and tackling hate crime in Devon and Cornwall

opccNews

The challenges and complexities of policing protests have been highlighted during an event for Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) councillor advocates who connect with police to improve community safety, reporting, and communication.

The role of the police is to balance the right to protest peacefully with minimising the impact on others. In advance of confirmed protests, this can include engaging with organisers, local partners and businesses.

Last year, the force’s Ops Planning department risk assessed 1,498 ‘notifiable’ events which are not just protests but events such as football matches and festivals. After being assessed, 32 resulted in Public Order Public Safety Policing (POPS) command structures being put in place. Of those, 16 were protests. The vast majority of protests in Devon and Cornwall are peaceful with no arrests.

The distinction between lawful and criminal protests and definitions of hate crime were discussed during a seminar at police headquarters on March 4, hosted by the OPCC. Around 35 councillor advocates heard from key speakers including force Public Order Commander Superintendent Graham Thomas and Josh Stunell, CEO of bthechange CIC – which supports individuals and communities impacted by the criminal justice system and also helps ethnically diverse people build safer, fairer and more inclusive communities.

Last year, bthechange was commissioned by Plymouth City Council to do a piece of research understanding the cause of the riots which took place in the city in the summer of 2024. Alongside understanding the cause, the other objectives were to help Plymouth heel and foster a shared sense of community cohesion where everyone feels safe, valued and welcomed.

In the 12 months to November 2025, 2,437 hate crimes were recorded by Devon & Cornwall Police, up by 5.3 per cent when compared to the previous year. The majority of crimes were motivated by racial prejudice, followed by sexual orientation and disability.

The force’s Diverse Communities Team continues to provide specialist advice and support to victims of hate offences. Its Zero Tolerance to Hate Crime Campaign remains fundamental to their work, educating people about the effects and harm of hate crime, and providing reassurance to victims that offences will not be tolerated.

When it comes to protests, lawful gatherings are deemed to be those which include peaceful chanting, holding signs, public assembly and expressing political behaviour. However, protests become criminal when behaviour includes racial slurs, incitement to violence, assault or vandalism and stirring up hatred.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez and Chief Constable James Vaughan also spoke at the seminar. Both recognised the need distinguish between legitimate political expression and criminal activity.

The Commissioner said: “People from our minority communities are sometimes living in fear of being attacked or shouted at in the street. I think we’ve all got a job to do to help make our communities feel as safe as possible. I would like to thank all the councillors who attended the event. We talked about how, as elected representatives, we must be the brokers, the mediators, and the supporters during these turbulent times, when people are not feeling as safe as they should be. Making communities safe for all residents remains one of the key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan.”

To prevent serious disruption, police can use specific powers under Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act. These set out legal conditions on organisers and participants around the routes, the length of time of any protest can take place, and the areas where respective groups must convene.

The councillor advocates seminar this week is one of four held each year. Each meeting is based on a different theme which focuses on one of the key priorities in the Police and Crime Plan – antisocial behaviour, drugs and alcohol, serious violence and theft.

Councillor advocates – unique to Devon and Cornwall – are volunteers from unitary, district and parish councils who have signed to improve communication between local councillors, the police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

For more details about the councillor advocate scheme, please click here Councillor Advocate Scheme – Your voice in policing

Mar92026

Misogyny and violence against women and girls has no place in society

opccBlog,News,VAWG

I was honoured to be among a roomful of more than 200 incredible women from across the region at an inspiring event last week in celebration of International Women’s Day and to explore how violence against women and girls (VAWG) can be tackled.

My office was proudly one of the sponsors of the West Country Women’s International Women’s Day Plymouth 2026: ‘Rights. Justice. Action’ which included hosting a one-hour takeover on the theme of justice.

Devon & Cornwall Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Leaper took time out of her busy schedule to share how she was cruelly subjected to misogyny at the beginning of this year after simply providing a message of reassurance on the force’s Facebook page about the disposal of an unexploded Second World War bomb in Exmouth.

Despite all the many great things she has achieved during almost 23 years’ service with the police, she instead received unacceptable and hurtful comments about her appearance and gender. ACC Leaper has more than proven herself to be a dedicated and well-respected officer, but on social media that was not how she was judged.

It is a sad reflection of how misogynistic and hateful comments have become a ‘normalised’ part of society, especially for females in leadership positions or those in the public spotlight. I too have been at the brunt of unkind and appalling personal comments which male Police and Crime Commissioner’s will have never experienced or ever will.

For far too long, females have endured living in a culture where it is accepted as being the “norm”. Misogyny has no place in society and neither does violence against women and girls (VAWG). That is why my office is extensively funding initiatives to combat it once and for all.

One of those, an impactful programme called Let’s Talk, was a key part of the OPPC’s justice hour. Rebecca Hewitt, who won last year’s OPCC Combating VAWG category at the West Country Women Awards, explained how £100,000 of OPCC funding will help empower parents and carers by raising awareness of the community safety risks and challenges faced by young people such as pornography, drugs and alcohol and relationships, while providing simple tips to support them.

The money will also help towards delivering important work including live online sessions to parents, carers and professionals, a Let’s Talk Dad’s Campaign and themed sessions such as misogyny.

Rebecca Hewitt, who is Teignbridge District Council’s strategy and policy manager and chair of South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership, also explained how vital it is to have a ‘whole community approach’ to tackling VAWG.

This is also something I have strongly believed in for a long time which is why last summer I hosted a groundbreaking one-day disruptive workshop in Exeter, inviting around 100 frontline professionals to contribute radical ideas aimed at disrupting VAWG. The workshop engaged a broad coalition of stakeholders, including police officers, council representatives, charities, victim services and policy makers.

Since then, those ideas have continued to evolve and develop with more exciting news to come this year about some of those plans. But in the meantime, I am pleased that throughout March, my office is using grant funding from the Ministry of Justice to offer vital new training to help frontline professionals identify and respond to evidence of stalking.

The sessions are being delivered online the Hollie Gazzard Trust – an exceptional national charity set up by the family of Hollie who was subjected to coercive and controlling behaviour and was tragically murdered by her ex-partner.

Last week, I welcomed the sentencing of 19-year-old unremorseful Sonny Boyes who was jailed for 17 years after being found guilty of nine sexual offences, including two counts of rape, against two teenage girls in Exeter. One victim was raped after getting off a train at Digby & Sowton train station, and the second victim was sexually assaulted both on the platform and onboard the train.

Throughout the criminal justice process, he was said to have had demonstrated misogynistic views and even while in custody had continued to show derogatory behaviour towards females he had encountered.

Women and girls should not have to feel unsafe to travel on public transport or in any aspect of their everyday lives. That is why my office is exploring ways to make train travel safer in our region.

It is also why we are focusing funding on education and early prevention to eradicate misogyny because only then will we finally see change that is far too long overdue.

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