budget survey

Feb22026

Commissioner highlights the significant impact police reforms will have in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Plans to create the biggest and most significant changes in policing this country has seen in years have begun and it cannot be underestimated how significant they will be for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Last week, the home secretary announced the government’s White Paper for reforming what she called the “broken” policing model in England and Wales. There are plans to create a new national police force and for new regional police forces to be created by merging existing forces. While it is clear improvements can and should be made in certain areas, I’d like to reassure people that Devon & Cornwall Police is far from “broken”.

Through the powers and scrutiny functions of myself and my office to hold the police to account, along with the great leadership of Chief Constable James Vaughan, our force continues to improve its performance.

In fact, the rules in which the police must function are largely the issue. From the complex bureaucracy of crime recording to producing a file to meet the standards of the Crown Prosecution Service, to court backlogs and the need for officers to create an audit trail for every action to justify everyday interactions, and also misconduct processes which are often onerous and lengthy.

All of these processes are generally developed by the government – not policing.

Devon & Cornwall Police is already the largest geographic police force in England with 4000 sq miles, the largest road network of 13,500 miles and 730 miles of coastline, with policing stretching 12 nautical miles out to sea. It has its own unique challenges including rurality, sparsity, and a significant seasonal influx of tourists.

What is so worrying about this is the potential for an erosion of democracy, of accountability and attention.

Let’s talk numbers. The government grant settlement for Devon and Cornwall has left the force with a budget shortfall of £3.1million on top of £6.5million planned efficiencies already to balance the budget for 2026-27. It is one of the lowest government funding settlements for policing nationally, with only four policing areas in England and Wales being left with less spending power – Cleveland, Greater Manchester, Norfolk and South Wales.

As 43 per cent of the funding for Devon and Cornwall police comes from council taxpayers, a far higher proportion than many other parts of the country, with the rest of the budget coming from central government, it is why I have had to increase the policing element of the police council tax bill by £15 a year for an average Band D property, after gaining approval from the Police and Crime Panel.

I was left with no choice but to ask taxpayers to pay more to bridge that shortfall from the government settlement. As of 2028, that duty, along with the democratic mandate that I have been given by the public for the last 10 years is to be abolished.

Police and Crime Commissioners are being replaced with either a mayor or a Police and Crime Board consisting of the leaders of our upper tier councils. In the absence of a mayor, in Devon and Cornwall this is likely to mean we have a board.

This will add a huge complex burden to already overstretched and overworked councillors and officers, especially those busy with Local Government Reorganisation. How can we expect policing and crime to be a priority?

I fear that the establishment of the National Police Service is a bureaucratic exercise.

It looks like it is the remaking of the National Police Improvement Agency that Theresa May abolished.

While it could give greater oversight by bringing several existing separate organisations into one, such as the College of Policing, Police Digital Service and Bluelight Commercial in the first instance, it will be years away from being a National Police Service that delivers operational policing, if indeed that ever happens given that part is planned after the lifetime of the current parliament.

A government commissioned independent review will report this summer on the number of regional forces and their boundaries. This could see Devon and Cornwall merging with other police forces, but the funding formula won’t be altered until post mergers and restructuring.

Yet the way the police funding is allocated is the biggest impact the government could have if it reviewed it. The last three times a government tried to do this it failed. I can only surmise it’s because in every iteration the Metropolitan Police loses out and smaller rural forces gain.

I have long been very vocal about my criticisms of the Police Funding Formula, which has built in over many years unfairness in how police forces are funded, with the consequence that some local communities pay more, but receive less.

At the same time, local government reform will lead to changes to our council boundaries and the government has indicated that a consultation on its preferred option is likely to start next month and also report in the summer, I believe.

The government has said that “in considering the optimal configuration of police forces…consideration will be given to alignment with other public sector boundaries”. In other words, both the size of our police force, and the size of the councils, are going to change significantly, possibly at the same time and in a way that tries to achieve similar boundaries.

I don’t believe the policing reforms will make our streets visibly safer anytime soon – and quite likely never at all – and will have little impact on everyday crimes that affect our lives.

It is vital all residents in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are kept updated about the changes in the white paper and it is why an information page is being made available on my office’s website which will have the latest news for people to access over the coming weeks and months.

In the meantime, I would like to assure residents that it remains business as usual and that both the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Devon & Cornwall Police will continue to listen and act in your best interests and deliver on our priorities of tackling violence, antisocial behaviour, drugs and alcohol and theft.

Feb22026

Improved support for survivors of rape and sexual abuse

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Survivors of sexual abuse and rape will now be provided with improved support that better meets their needs across Devon and Cornwall by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Following a competitive tender exercise undertaken, a new sexual abuse support model is being launched today, February 2, to provide a joined-up approach for survivors. The launch coincides with Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week.

The new model will strengthen local leadership, coordination and oversight, ensuring clearer pathways for those who need help and a more joined up, trauma-informed approach for survivors.

A former service user and now ambassador of Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services has welcomed the new support model having had to wait nearly two years to receive therapy after making a referral in 2022.

She recalled: “It was a massive step to ask for help, especially around sexual violence as there is so much stigma and shame. You build yourself up ready to speak about it and then you have to carry on as normal while you wait. My mental health suffered trying to cope with it but when I did get support it was fantastic.

“Waits have thankfully now improved. The new model sounds really good because survivors will be able to get support quicker and it recognises some people need different things.”

Explaining the benefits it will bring, Bethan Ridge, specialist support team leader for Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services, said: “My team are so looking forward to working more collaboratively with our new partners who are coming on board through this contract. It feels we now have a more rounded partnership which will further deepen survivor choice, as well as support our resilience, enable us to share best practice, and work in solidarity with like-minded charities who all want the best for survivors of rape and sexual abuse in Devon”.

The following councils and organisations will act as lead service providers in their areas, coordinating delivery and working closely with partners across the system to provide easier access to therapy and support for both adults and children:

Cornwall

The Women’s Centre Cornwall is leading a partnership to deliver the Oak Service – therapeutic support for men and women survivors of sexual violence and sexual abuse. The partners are CLEAR trauma therapy and counselling – who are leading on the children’s service – Konnect Communities, Intercom Trust, Olive Project and Pegasus Men’s Wellbeing. These services will be fully available under the new model from April.

Devon and Torbay

The Children’s Society and Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services are partnering with Intercom Trust, Co-Lab and What’s Your Problem.

Plymouth – First Light is partnering with Young Devon, Victim Support and Operation Emotion.

The total investment across the five years of the contract is £6.7million with the majority of the funding coming from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

Torbay Council, Plymouth City Council, Cornwall Council and Devon County Council are also each contributing funding for support services in their area, with overarching support from NHS England.

A key role of the OPCC is providing services for victims to help them cope and recover. Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “A crucial priority of mine has been to make sure every victim of sexual abuse receives the right free support from the services my office invests in.

“In Devon and Cornwall, we have seen a concerning rise in recorded sexual offences over the years. Since 2010, the number of these crimes has more than tripled. This investment will ensure the help victims need is available.”

The Commissioner recently visited Phoenix Rising, a support service based in Torquay for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. The non-profit organisation says having whole wrap around services are what victims need.

Claire Knight, CEO of Phoenix Rising, said: “There is a gap and a need for a contract like this and we are hoping to work with those services to bring that support.”

To access victim support online funded by the OPCC, including Devon & Cornwall Police Victim Care Unit, please visit the Victim Care website at https://victimcare-dc.org/

Victims of rape and serious sexual offences in Devon and Cornwall can find out what happens when such crimes are reported to the police and the support available throughout the process through a video created by the OPCC as part of its wider Criminal Justice and You online resource. Please visit https://victimcare-dc.org/your-journey-through-the-criminal-justice-system/

Jan302026

Police funding settlement leaves Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner with no choice but to propose council tax increase

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The Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Alison Hernandez, will today propose an increase in the police part of next year’s council tax of £15 a year for an average Band D property.

This increase, if supported at a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel on January 30, would mean an average Band D household would pay an extra £1.50 a month (if paid over 10 months).

Commissioner Hernandez said she feared officer numbers would be at risk if councillors on the Panel did not approve the increase, equal to 5.2% a year, after a government grant settlement which has left the force with a budget shortfall or around £3million for 2026-7.

43% of the funding for Devon and Cornwall police comes from council taxpayers, a far higher proportion than many other parts of the country, with the rest of the budget coming from central government.

Devon and Cornwall have received one of the lowest government funding settlements for policing nationally, with only four policing areas in England and Wales being left with less spending power (Cleveland, Greater Manchester, Norfolk and South Wales).

The government caps the amount that police commissioners are allowed to increase council tax at £15 for a Band D property, but even with the maximum increase allowed, the budget for Devon and Cornwall Police will only increase by 4.2% in 2026-7 compared to the national average of 4.5%.

One of the reasons for the shortfall is that money which was previously linked to the recruitment of extra officers has been reduced by half. A figure of £5million which had previously been allocated to cover the cost of recruiting 95 officers has been reduced in this funding settlement to £2.5million. This means the Devon and Cornwall force has been left with a funding gap equivalent to the loss of 47 officers (half of 95).

Commissioner Hernandez said: “The new government settlement appears to effectively penalise the force for this success in meeting national recruitment targets by removing base funding for those officers. Across England and Wales the average grant increase for policing is 4.5%, however in Devon and Cornwall that figure is 4.2%. Only four policing areas in England have had a lower provisional settlement than Devon and Cornwall. This leaves me with an anticipated shortfall of around £3million and no choice but to ask taxpayers to pay more.”

The Commissioner says the Chief Constable has assured her the funding gap is unlikely to affect the total number of officers which remains at the record high of 3,610, because of £6 million of locally identified efficiencies already planned in next year’s budget.

One of other the reasons the force is not likely to have to reduce the number of officers is that the two counties have a very high proportion of second homes (charged 200% council tax). Last year council tax contributions from second homeowners raised £6million, with a similar amount expected in 2026-7.

Commissioner Hernandez said: “Our communities deserve visible, effective policing. We have worked hard, alongside local taxpayers, to increase officer numbers to their highest level ever. It is deeply concerning that we now appear to be punished for doing exactly what government asked of us.”

The Commissioner has again highlighted long-standing issues with the police funding formula, which continues to fail rural and coastal areas. Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly face unique challenges including rurality, sparsity, and a significant seasonal influx of tourists, yet will receive less grant funding than the national average increase.

Commissioner Hernandez added: “Many families are already under immense financial pressure, and I do not believe it is fair for the only option to be to ask people to pay even more. I have always committed to our local taxpayers that if they pay more they get more. For the first time, I’m going to have to ask people to pay more to get the same or less.”

The Commissioner’s budget proposal will be considered by the councillors on the Police and Crime Panel at a meeting in Plymouth at 10:30 on 30 January 2026: Agenda for Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel on Friday 30 January 2026, 10.30 am – Modern Council

The Police Grant Report 2026-27 is available here: Police grants in England and Wales: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK

Policing precept – this table shows how each council tax band would be affected by the proposed increase:

Jan262026

Collaboration is key for improving community safety

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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.

Jan232026

Public support Devon and Cornwall Police continuing as a single force, survey finds

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Residents across Devon and Cornwall have expressed clear support for Devon & Cornwall Police continuing as a single force, according to the results of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s 2026 Your Safety, Your Say survey.

The survey, launched in December 2025, received 1,533 responses between 11 December 2025 and 12 January 2026 — an 18% increase on the same period the previous year and well above the sample size required for statistically significant results. The survey remains active online for people to submit their views but initial results have been collated to help set the policing part of the council tax.

In November, the Government announced that Police and Crime Commissioners will not be replaced when their current terms of office end in May 2028. The Government is expected to announce further policing reforms before the end of January and it’s been reported that this could include police force mergers.

When asked about the possibility of police force mergers, 66% of survey respondents said they would like Devon & Cornwall Police to continue in its current form. Nearly 18% of people expressed a preference for a South West regional force merging five forces, nearly 13% were in favour of a single force for England and 1.5% supported the creation of a separate Cornwall-only police force. Comments from respondents showed a range of views, but many emphasised the importance of service quality.

Alongside views on force structure, the survey explored public confidence in policing. Confidence in Devon & Cornwall Police appears to have increased year on year, with 32% of respondents saying they feel “confident” or “extremely confident” in the force, compared with 29% last year. People continue to report higher levels of confidence in local policing than in policing across the UK as a whole.

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) was identified as the top issue residents want the police to tackle, followed by drugs, people carrying weapons, dangerous driving and shoplifting. These were the same top five concerns as in last year’s survey, with antisocial behaviour also most frequently selected as the area needing further investment under the Police and Crime Plan.

The survey also highlighted strong public support for increased funding to tackle violence against women and girls. Six in 10 respondents said they would like more money spent in this area and most of them were male. There was similarly strong backing for independent victim services, with 79% agreeing that victims should receive support from services independent of the police.

When asked about police governance, 62% of respondents said they would like more of a say in how the police element of council tax is spent. Most people who responded to the survey (42%) said they would like to see police and crime commissioners replaced with a policing board made up of council leaders across Devon and Cornwall. Nearly a third of people said they would like to keep the role of police and crime commissioner, 8% of people expressed a preference for the police to be scrutinised by an elected mayor, while 7% said they do not think the police need to be held to account.

The survey also explored community cohesion, with 45.5% of respondents agreeing that their local area is a place where “people from different backgrounds get on together”.

The Your Safety, Your Say survey was promoted through local and national media, social media campaigns and in-person engagement events across Devon and Cornwall, including youth groups, shopping centres, colleges and cultural venues.

Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “I would like to thank everyone who has filled out our survey. It is reassuring to see my priorities continue to be aligned with the things that matter most to people.

“For example, to help tackle ASB and improve safety my office has launched a Street Focus partnership in Camborne following the success of project Street Focus Torquay.

“Theft is another increasing concern. Police officers have been targeting resources on a crackdown on crime in Plymouth city centre following an increase in reports of shoplifting and ASB, including street drinking. Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) was also launched last year to offer a more collaborative and effective approach to reducing retail crime, and my office is continuing with the roll-out of business crime reduction solution UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC).

“The fight against drugs continues to be disrupted by regular coordinated policing operations across the peninsula, including Operation Scorpion and Pubs Against Drugs. These continue to deliver great results and send out a clear message that drugs will be tolerated in our communities.”

The findings of the annual survey will help inform future decisions on policing priorities, ensuring that public views continue to shape policing across Devon and Cornwall. It is a statutory requirement that the Commissioner carries out a survey every year as part of the process to set the police part of the council tax. Councillors on the Police and Crime Panel will have the opportunity to consider the Commissioner’s budget proposal, including the level of the policing precept in the 2026-27 council tax bill, at a meeting on Friday, January 30.

To complete the Your Safety, Your Say survey, please visit Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office | Commonplace

To view a video of the initial results gathered by the OPCC so far, please click here.

Jan232026

New partnership aims to reduce retail crime across Devon and Cornwall

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A significant milestone to help reduce shoplifting, retail crime, antisocial behaviour (ASB) and violence in Devon and Cornwall has been achieved following the merger of two not-for-profit business-crime organisations.

UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) – supported by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) – and the National Retail Crime Alliance (NRCA) have joined forces to provide police with reliable, high-quality intelligence and crime reporting from businesses nationwide across retail, hospitality, freight, rural and night-time economies.

It means that businesses – from independents to major national chains – and the police will be able to work more closely together to prevent crime, seek convictions and tackle persistent offenders. NRCA members include Tesco, Co-op Group, Brewers, JD, Matalan, One Stop, Wickes and Spar.

In April 2025, the OPCC began the rollout of business crime reduction solution UKPAC by funding initial 12-months free subscriptions in Torquay and has resulted in successful convictions. It is now available across Devon and Cornwall with plans to continue with its expansion as a single, national body.

UKPAC’s secure, multi-sector reporting hub and wide business membership has been combined with NRCA’s national intelligence, offender data, and analytical capability. All income will be reinvested into prevention tools, intelligence, offender management solutions and joint policing initiatives.

Existing and new members will now receive more benefits from the collaboration which prioritises the safety of staff, customers, communities and local economies. The two organisations will still trade and be known by their individual names.

The new logo of UKPAC and NRCA following its merger

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “A key priority in my Police and Crime plan is theft which is why I have ensured a concerted effort is being made to tackle shoplifting through more visible policing and funding crime reporting system UKPAC.

“It has proved to be a quicker and easier way for traders to report any crime in just a few minutes via an app or online portal and share intelligence among the business community. UKPAC analysts can then build robust cases ready for prosecution.

“Its success will now be greatly increased thanks to the merger with NRCA and I look forward to hearing about the great results it achieves, also working alongside Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) to offer a more collaborative and effective approach to combating retail crime.

“I encourage everyone to sign up the scheme because it really is making a difference.”

Gareth Lewis, chairman of UKPAC said: “This merger creates a single, trusted collaborative partner for policing — one that understands the operational pressures and can deliver reliable, high-quality intelligence and reporting from businesses nationwide.”

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

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