prison

Apr202026

Victims urged to have their say to help shape future support

Victims of crime in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are being urged to take part in a national, independent survey which will help shape victim services in the future to make sure people are getting the right support.

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman, has launched the 2026 Victims’ Survey. It is the only national, independent annual survey that gathers insights directly from victims across all crime types and stages of the justice process. These insights help the Victims’ Commissioner understand what’s working, where improvements are needed, and shape the recommendations she makes to improve outcomes for victims.

Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Supporting victims is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan and is achieved through my office funding a wide range of more than 40 services. In 2024/25, 32,977 victims were supported by those services

“This year £8m has been allocated by my office to ensure more people can continue to receive timely and tailored free and independent support. It is important that we give victims a voice to ensure the support available is as good as it possibly can be.”

Claire Waxman, the Victims Commissioner for England and Wales, said: “I have launched my 2026 Victims’ Survey to hear directly from people affected by crime about their experiences of the criminal justice system. I recognise that these experiences can be difficult to revisit, and taking part is entirely your choice.

“If you feel able, your voice can help strengthen victims’ rights, improve support available, and encourage more understanding and consistent responses from criminal justice agencies. Your experience matters, and by sharing it, you can help us rebuild a justice system that delivers the treatment victims deserve.”

The anonymous survey takes around 15 minutes and is open to anyone aged 16 and above who has experienced or reported a crime since January 2021. The deadline for submissions is May 6.

To complete the survey, please click here – Victim Survey for England and Wales 2026 — TONIC

Apr202026

The life-changing power of restorative justice

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Providing free and appropriate support for victims of crime is just one of the many responsibilities Police and Crime Commissioners are entrusted to deliver. I’m extremely proud to say that my office funds more than 40 fantastic different services to help victims cope and recover, including one that most people have never heard of – restorative justice (RJ).

The empowering process brings together the victim of a crime and the offender – if both parties are willing – to repair the harm caused and prevent reoffending. It might initially sound like a daunting concept but, according to national statistics, RJ can reduce offending by 27 per cent because it helps the offender understand the devastating impact their actions have caused. This is one of the ways that victims can take control of their recovery.

Last week I was invited, along with the Devon & Cornwall Police Chief Constable James Vaughan, to the Theatre Royal Plymouth to watch an award-winning play called Punch. Based on a true story, it not only portrays the life-changing damage that can be caused by one punch but also the power of RJ.

Punch tells the tragic story of how Nottingham teenager Jacob Dunne was jailed after causing the death of paramedic James Hodgkinson with just one blow. James’s parents were supported to reach out to Jacob through a RJ scheme in try and come to terms with their son’s heartbreaking death.

Through mediators, and after several months of letters, incredibly it was James’s parents who began supporting Jacob to make better choices and go back into education to turn his life around.

Eventually they reached a place where they could meet face-to-face. The outcome was Jacob leaving with a determination to do everything he could to prevent other parents from going through the trauma they had, and both parties becoming advocates of RJ.

RJ has proven time and time again to give victims closure and stop offenders doing it again which is why my office funds Make Amends, the only RJ service for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

One of the many people it has helped is Seth Marks and his mum Julie. Seth, who lives in Devon, had only recently turned 18 when the car he was a passenger in crashed causing him to be permanently paralysed. The vehicle was being driven by Seth’s friend who was under the influence of drink and drugs, and Seth was not wearing a seatbelt.

Now aged 21, Seth has become even better friends with the driver of the car and his mum has been able to forgive his friend thanks to having gone through the RJ process. They too have become incredible advocates of Make Amends and the difference RJ makes.

Julie was also among those who was invited by Devon’s new High Sheriff, Mark Ansell, to attend the performance of Punch.

The role of the modern-day High Sheriff – an independent and a non-political royal appointment – is to support the judiciary, emergency services, prison and probation services and various other agencies involved in crime.

During a High Sheriff’s year in office they can choose to highlight a theme linked to the criminal justice system. Mark has chosen RJ to raise awareness of what it is and educate as many people as possible about the great outcomes it can achieve. It is a very worthy cause because so many people are still unfamiliar with the concept which is why take-up is low nationally. I wish Mark good luck in his new role, one that has been carried out by no less than two other generations of his family – his father and grandfather.

I also look forward to working with him to promote RJ and hearing about more people it has helped. In 2024-25, Devon &Cornwall Police’s RJ Coordinator dealt with almost 900 enquiries and proactively contacted in excess of 1,000 victims. I am hoping those numbers will continue to increase.

It is crucial that all victims of crime know that they have a right to access RJ, but are also made aware it is a voluntary rather than compulsory process.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to former Devon High Sheriff Caroline Harlow who spent the criminal justice element of her year in office raising awareness of the harms of the gambling. Her passion for achieving change was unwavering and inspiring. Thanks to Caroline, changes are underway ensuring that her legacy as High Sheriff will continue to be felt for a long time to come.

My thanks also go to former Cornwall High Sheriff Geraint Richards for all he achieved during his term with Harriet Hills appointed to take over his reins. Geraint is a keen advocate for tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) and will be instrumental in helping my office develop the Male Ally Network (MAN). It is a bold pilot which is being launched in Cornwall and instead of expecting women to be the ones to change their behaviour, it will bring together boys and men to create a collective stance against VAWG.

He will be instrumental in helping my office develop the Male Ally Network (MAN), a bold pilot which is being launched in Cornwall which instead of expecting women to be the ones to change their behaviour, will bring together boys and men to create a collective stance against VAWG.

To access RJ, you can contact the Victim Care Unit of Devon and Cornwall Police via the contact details below.

Non-crime and self-referrals to explore RJ can be made by emailing makeamends@shekinah.co.uk or calling Make Amends on 01803 222033.

To find out more about Restorative Justice visit Criminal Justice and You, a multimedia resource for people affected by crime.

To access support online visit the Victim Care Devon & Cornwall website at https://victimcare-dc.org/

Apr142026

Commissioner’s funding boost will help keep street marshals on patrol in 15 Devon and Cornwall towns this summer

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High-visibility street marshal patrols will continue in 15 towns across Devon and Cornwall for a further six months following a £150,000 funding boost from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

Street marshals provide a uniformed presence in town centres and other busy public spaces. They act as extra eyes and ears for police, help deter antisocial behaviour (ASB) and low-level crime, and offer reassurance to residents, businesses and visitors.

The OPCC funding will support patrols until September 30, 2026, in towns where street marshals have already been operating alongside police and partners to help prevent ASB and improve feelings of safety in local communities. The aim is to ensure continued efforts during our summer surge of visitors.

Many street marshals are accredited through the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS), which gives them a limited range of powers to help tackle ASB, including seizing alcohol or tobacco from young people and requesting details from those involved in certain offences.

The Commissioner’s £150,000 contribution forms part of the wider funding picture for street marshals in these locations, with delivery continuing through joint working between Devon & Cornwall Police and local partners.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “Street marshals provide a reassuring and visible presence in communities and play an important role in supporting efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour. My office is pleased to be helping to maintain street marshal patrols in the 15 locations that have already seen the benefits of this approach.

“The funding will help maintain that presence in the short term while partners continue to consider longer term arrangements for local provision. Tackling ASB is not something any one organisation can do alone. It depends on strong partnership working, and street marshals are a good example of that in action.”

Over the past two years, Devon and Cornwall has benefited from Home Office hotspot policing funding which supported targeted police patrols and partnership activity in areas with higher levels of ASB, crime and serious violence.

That national funding has not continued this year. Building on the progress made, Devon & Cornwall Police is now taking hotspot policing forward as part of business as usual neighbourhood policing across the whole force, meaning communities across Devon and Cornwall will continue to benefit from targeted patrols and problem-solving activity.

Nearly 8,000 hours of street marshal patrols were delivered during the final nine months of 2025 in the 15 existing hotspot locations. The impact of street marshals has been welcomed by communities and businesses.

Tony, who works in Camborne, said: “You can notice the positive difference and increase in people out enjoying the town nicely. It helps business because people want to buy things from shops and sit in the square to eat in the sunshine. There is a good presence from the marshals as well, they interact with the locals and if people are having issues, they know who can help.”

Sally, owner of Lightning Tree XOX in Bideford, said: “It is reassuring to know there are patrols in our town. It gives my staff a good level of confidence that there are people there to look after and watch out for them. Some of the problems we had were graffiti, rubbish and disorder but with the marshal patrols, that is helping. So as a business owner, I am very happy to see them around.”

To learn more about the work of street marshals, please watch the videos below:

Tiverton foot patrols helping reduce anti-social behaviour

Cracking down on anti-social behaviour in Newton Abbot

Apr132026

The unsung heroes with accredited powers to keep our communities safe

opccBlog

The uniform worn by police officers is instantly recognisable by the public and associated with law and order, as well as providing a reassuring presence on our streets to keep communities safe.

However, if you live in big towns and cities and even rural areas, it is very likely that you will have also come across patrols being carried out by people wearing similar but differently branded clothing to reflect the contrasting, but still vital powers bestowed upon them.

These include street marshals, town wardens, rangers, Tri-Service Safety Officers (TSSOs) and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). One thing many of them have in common, who are not employed the police, is being part of the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS).

It gives employees who are involved in community safety or traffic management roles a range of limited police powers – approved by the Chief Constable – to improve community safety such as the authority to issue fixed penalty notices for certain offences, confiscating items such as tobacco or alcohol and directing traffic.

Last year marked the 20th anniversary of CSAS being launched in Devon and Cornwall. There are now 32 CSAS and Accredited Police Volunteer (APV) schemes which together are made up of more than 200 accredited people. They are employed by partner organisations and are all police vetted and have passed an assessed training course.

Later this month, an annual development day is being held in Exeter for CSAS accredited professionals to develop their knowledge around community safety issues as well as general knowledge of policing. Another key benefit is meeting people from other schemes in their areas.

Tackling crime, disorder and antisocial behaviour is a collective responsibility that falls upon not just the police but partner organisations, including local authorities, private sector organisations and event traffic management schemes.

One of the reasons Devon and Cornwall are much safer places to live than many other areas of the country is because we have adopted such a collaborative approach which combines traditional policing with community led solutions.

Street marshals – who act as extra eyes and ears for police – were first introduced at scale during the Coronavirus pandemic and have been making a remarkable difference to businesses and communities ever since.

Nearly 8,000 hours of street marshal patrols were delivered during the final nine months of 2025 in 15 designated hotspot locations across Devon and Cornwall. Further funding from my office will ensure these continue until the end of September 2026, while partners continue to consider longer term arrangements for local provision.

Businesses and local authorities have been helping match fund OPCC contributions to create roles in communities with CSAS powers. This partnership approach means we can stretch our funding further and put more boots on the ground which is what everyone always tells me they want – and deserve. Vitally, it also frees up police officers to deal with more complex incidents.

A unique role that not only helps police, but other emergency services, is Tri-Service Safety Officers (TSSOs).

They can be called upon to deal with police, ambulance and fire and rescue incidents, and provide a broad skill set and enhance early intervention, prevention and support for vulnerable individuals.

This innovative model – unique to Devon and Cornwall – began as a pilot in Cornwall in 2014. There are now 15 full-time roles across Cornwall, with Devon’s first TSSO officially launched in Holsworthy in 2025. The hope is the successful model will one day be replicated across the country.

These extra roles, be it a TSSO or a street marshal, all make a huge difference and are an essential part of the bigger picture. I am extremely grateful for their relentless dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism to keep Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly safe.

Apr72026

United efforts to disrupt violence again women and girls are fast gaining momentum

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It is now eight months since I hosted a ground-breaking disruptive ideas workshop that brought together around 100 frontline professionals in one room with a shared passion for combating violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Since then, my office has been working with partners to narrow down the best projects that will each create the biggest changes and deliver long-lasting impact in not just Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, but hopefully nationwide too.

To achieve that, my office is helping to fund innovative ideas that cover a broad spectrum across the VAWG sphere, including victims, perpetrators, potential offenders and bystanders. The common theme uniting them all is that we need to stop expecting women and girls to carry the burden of making them feel they are the ones who have to change their behaviour to stay safe.

Everyone in society has a vital role to play in tackling VAWG. It’s high time men and boys stepped forward to become part of the solution and bring about long-term cultural change. That is why my office is funding £50,000, match funded by Devon & Cornwall Police through money seized from the Tate brothers, to launch a pilot called Cornwall Male Ally Network (MAN) which has already sparked initial interest from Queen Camilla during a recent visit to St Austell.

Although in its very early infancy, the cross-sector collaborative initiative aims to work directly within communities, including sports clubs, music spaces, and social environments, to support positive male role models, challenge harmful behaviours, and create safer environments for women and girls.

If successful, it is hoped the network will then expand into Devon and other regions leaving a lasting legacy of some of the great things achieved by Police and Crime Commissioners.

In the meantime, our disruptive VAWG work is fast gaining momentum. Projects include:

Essential stalking training – OPCC grant funding from the Ministry of Justice to provide training frontline professionals to help identify and respond to evidence of stalking

Improving criminal justice experience of victims and witnesses – First-of-its kind Criminal Justice and You multimedia resource created by the OPCC. Recently included delivering a one-hour justice takeover slot at the West Country Women’s International Women’s Day Plymouth 2026: ‘Rights. Justice. Action’,

Empowering parents, carers and children – OPCC funding to expand Let’s Talk successful projects, including a new website

Other projects still in the pipeline include the production of a short film that shows the world through a woman’s eyes who is simply trying to make her way safely home, more routes being added to the OPCC funded Saturday night bus service and discussions about how to improve safety on trains.

Eradicating VAWG once and for all is not something that can be done alone. It has to be done in collaboration as a united front and I remain committed to doing everything in my power over the next two years to make sure change begin to be seen so that women and girls can once again enjoy their lives without always being in fear for their safety.

Apr12026

Tate brothers seized cash will help fund male allyship to challenge misogyny and violence against women and girls

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A proportion of funds seized by Devon & Cornwall Police from the Tate brothers is being used to help create a pioneering male allyship pilot to encourage men and boys to make a stand opposing violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The collaborative project has been developed and supported by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Almost £2.9m in assets from self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan was seized by police in 2024 and 2025 relating to tax and VAT evasion and money laundering offences.

The majority of the money from the successful civil case has been returned to the treasury, but a landmark ruling saw more than £1m given back to Devon & Cornwall Police which, in consultation with the Police and Crime Commissioner, has chosen to use it to support action against VAWG.

The newly formed Cornwall Male Ally Network (MAN) is one of a number of initiatives to benefit from the fund. Match funding of £50,000 is being provided by the OPCC for the pilot.

Cornwall MAN – currently in its early development phase – is an innovative, cross-sector initiative, which will focus on engaging men and boys as part of the solution to reducing violence and abuse.

Representatives from the steering group behind the project shared plans with The Queen, a long-standing advocate for survivors of domestic abuse, during an official visit to the Market House in St Austell last Tuesday, March 24.

Key partners in the group include the OPCC, Devon & Cornwall Police, Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum (VSF), Cornwall Council, Women’s Centre Cornwall, West Cornwall Women’s Aid, Barnardo’s and First Light.

The group explained to Her Majesty that a male allyship will be created by working directly within communities, including sports clubs, music spaces, and social environments, to support positive male role models, challenge harmful behaviours, and create safer environments for women and girls.

By focusing on prevention and early intervention, the project seeks to address the root causes of abuse and contribute to long-term cultural change.

The Queen showed particular interest in the project’s preventative approach and has asked to be kept updated on its progress.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “Ever since my office hosted a ground-breaking disruptive VAWG ideas workshop last summer, attended by around 100 frontline professionals, we have been working with partners to develop the best projects which will create the biggest and long-lasting impact.

“One of those exciting plans is the Cornwall MAN pilot which although in its very early infancy, will radically tackle VAWG by men and boys stepping forward to become part of the solution.

“Nothing pleases me more than knowing that women and girls in Devon and Cornwall will benefit from the funds seized by the Tate brothers whose toxic and downgrading views have no place in society.”

Cornwall MAN will be formally launched during the 16 Days of Action domestic violence campaign in November 2026. The pilot will last for 12 months with an ambition to also expand it into Devon.

Devon & Cornwall Police Chief Constable James Vaughan said: “Our work to seize these funds demonstrates our commitment to ensuring criminal activity does not benefit those responsible. We are proud to reinvest this money into initiatives that support victims and work towards preventing abuse in our communities with a particular focus on violence against women and girls.”

Kirstie Edwards, Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum engagement manager, added: “Every single day, women make automatic micro-adjustments to keep themselves safe, from the routes we take home to the precautions we build into our daily lives.

“If we want that to change, we have to shift the focus. Prevention means working with men and boys, challenging harmful behaviours and creating something better to step into. That’s exactly what this project is about.”

Further updates on Cornwall MAN will be shared as the project develops.

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