retail crime

Jun132026

Excellence in Policing Awards highlights incredible achievements

The exceptional work being carried out Devon & Cornwall Police officers, staff and volunteers has been celebrated during the third Recognition of Excellence in Policing Awards.

The event, held on Friday, June 12, began with Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez praising the award winners for their tireless dedication. She also thanked all those within the force who go above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis.

The annual awards – organised by the Museum of Policing in Devon and Cornwall which is owned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner – acknowledges the exceptional contributions being made to policing. Nominations were submitted from across the force, alongside endorsements from partner agencies.

There were 19 awards presented by Chief Constable James Vaughan. Award categories include Police Staff Member of the Year, Student Officer of the Year, Patrol Officer of the Year, PCSO of the Year, Excellence in Volunteering and Unsung Hero of the Year.

The category of Detective of the Year was awarded to Detective Constable Rebecca Lockley who began her policing career as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) in 2005 before joining as a regular officer in 2010. She became a detective seven years later and has worked predominantly in child protection, firstly in the public protection unit before moving across to the paedophile online investigation team in 2020.

Detective Constable Rebecca Lockley

In 2025, DC Lockley secured convictions in court against 10 separate paedophiles, totalling over 12 years in custody and 75 years on Sexual Harm Prevention Orders. In her award nomination, she was described as an “outstanding detective who demonstrates exceptional investigative skill, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to delivering justice for victims”. She was also praised for the high level of support given to child victims throughout her investigations.

Her unwavering dedication was instrumental this year in securing a lengthy prison sentence for 29-year-old Devon sex offender Miles Goninon who targeted vulnerable young girls online and incited them into sharing degrading sexual content and carrying out self-harm. He was also found in possession of thousands of indecent images and videos of children spanning all three categories.

Goninon, of Winkleigh, pleaded guilty to 25 offences including possession and distribution of indecent images of children (all categories), engaging in sexual communications with children and causing a child to engage in a sexual act.

Miles Goninon

DC Lockley said: “Dealing with child sex offenders can at times be very harrowing but the best part of my job is the amazing team I work with. We are supported by various teams across the force which include the Force Support Group, Victim ID and Digital Dogs.

“The hardest part of my job is reviewing images of child victims and making very difficult disclosures to family members when we arrest their loved ones for committing offences against the most vulnerable of victims.

“Family members will not have any idea that their partners are committing these offences and there are often children within the family which means I have to make difficult decisions around child contact.

“The case I am probably most proud of is that of Miles Goninon where the suspect was in contact with more than 300 victims via the Snapchat platform. Some of the victims were overseas. Working closely with Victim ID, we identified several of these victims around the country who I visited in person. We were able to secure evidence from digital devices and support from parents meant we were able to secure a conviction without the victims having to attend court and give evidence.

“Further victims were identified and have been visited by forces across the country to offer safeguarding and support through other agencies. Work is still ongoing to try and identify outstanding victims.

“The defendant received a 12-year prison sentence with eight years on extended licence, Registered Sex Offender for life and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which was a great outcome for the victims.”

Other award winners included the emergency response team in Newquay who were named Police Team of the Year.

The team was praised for showing “exceptional dedication and initiative” in tackling the growing issue of drug dealing in Newquay in parallel with their frontline responsibilities, including numerous high-risk and traumatic incidents.

Four officers who desperately attempted to save a woman from drowning in freezing cold water in the winter before other emergency services arrived were highlighted for their immense bravery and determination. Sadly the woman could not be saved but the officers efforts have also seen them nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards.

The award nomination stated: “While no award can fully reflect the scale of their contribution, recognition as Team of the Year appropriately acknowledges the significant value they bring to both the organisation and the communities they serve.”

Chief Constable James Vaughan said: “The policing awards are a powerful reminder of the dedication, skill and compassion demonstrated by our officers, staff and volunteers every day.

“I am incredibly proud of all the recipients and the commitment they show in protecting and serving the communities of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Their work often goes above and beyond what is expected, making a real and lasting difference to the lives of the public we are here to support.

“These awards are a chance to recognise not only outstanding achievements, but also the values of integrity, teamwork and service that underpin everything we do.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “At a time when policing is in the national spotlight for controversy, it is vital that those who work every day to keep us safe are recognised.

“Congratulations to all the award winners who have shown the upmost dedication to their roles and supporting victims through a traumatic time. These officers, staff and volunteers – along with everyone else in the force – work tirelessly to secure the best outcomes for victims and are an incredible asset to Devon & Cornwall Police.”

Other winners of the Excellence in Policing Awards 2026 included:

PSI Ian Clenahan

Police Staff Investigator of the Year

PSI Ian Clenahan

PSI Clenahan is recognised for delivering exemplary work across several serious and complex investigations. His professionalism, investigative skill and dedication have made an outstanding contribution to the delivery of justice and public protection.

He was praised for demonstrating the highest standards of investigation, sound ethical decision making, and a strong commitment to supporting victims. Ian’s work has included an attempted murder investigation, securing charges and remand for a serious assault in Paignton.

Trainer of the Year

Sergeant Hilton McDonald

Sgt McDonald is recognised for his exceptional and sustained contribution to learning and development over 18 years as the force’s longest serving and most experienced Public Order, Method of Entry and Command Trainer. He designed, coordinated and led the only Regional Public Order exercise delivered in the last 18 years, demonstrating leadership and commitment to high quality and realistic training.

His expertise is recognised overseas, with the Home Office delivering specialist training in the Cayman Islands, Sierra Leone and Bermuda.

His International Command Course for overseas officers is ranked 1st out of 86 national courses.

His nomination added: “Hilton is respected in our region, across the UK and beyond; his impact will be his legacy as he retires later this year.”

Police Staff Member of the Year

Tom Horwood-Luscombe

Tom is recognised for identifying a critical, system-wide failure to consider access, inclusion and bias issues in court presentations across the criminal justice system. Despite approximately one in 12 people being affected by colour vision deficiency, this important issue had not previously been addressed.

Working largely in his own time, Tom researched, designed and implemented practical countermeasures to improve accessibility for those with colour vision deficiency and other needs, whilst also reducing bias in visual evidence. Tom’s initiative has now been adopted by multiple UK police forces and departments, as well as overseas by the FBI and Swedish Police, and is now referenced in the updated National Framework as a minimum standard.

Resource and Incident Manager Officer (RIMO) of the Year

Beshley Heal

In her nomination, Beshley is described as being empathetic towards the officers she deploys, and approaching her role with a “positive attitude and bringing a smile to work each day”.

Besh’s real strength is her passion for helping develop work around violence against women and girls. She has also worked collaboratively with partner organisations to produce content from a victim-focused perspective.

Contact Officer of the Year

Georgia Mewett

Georgia is nominated in recognition of her outstanding dedication, proactive approach, and significant contribution to improving the identification and support of stalking victims within her role as a Contact Officer.

Georgia volunteered to take on the role of Stalking Champion, demonstrating a clear commitment to supporting both her colleagues and the wider organisation. She makes herself available to support colleagues, reviewing stalking incidents and providing clear, actionable feedback to improve outcomes.

Her nomination said: “Georgia’s dedication to this area of work has been self-driven and she has never sought recognition for her efforts. Her contribution has been instrumental in improving the identification and recording of stalking offences at first point of contact, enhancing safeguarding and service delivery.

“Georgia also works as a tutor, underscoring her dedication, professionalism, and commitment to supporting colleagues and members of the public.”

PCSO Di Glanfield

PCSO of the Year

Di Glanfield

PCSO Di Glanfield is recognised for her long-standing dedication and outstanding service as a Police Community Support Officer covering the north of Plymouth with 15 years’ experience. She has managed a demanding workload and been particularly effective in organising and delivering community engagement events.

A key strength of PCSO Glanfield’s work is her commitment to partnership working, including with Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Community Homes to address serious neighbourhood security and safeguarding concerns.

In one case involving a vulnerable individual believed to be at risk of ‘cuckooing’, she managed risk with skill, coordinated with partner agencies, and worked to ensure the individual’s safety and appropriate relocation.

Her nomination added: “PCSO Glanfield demonstrates professionalism, dedication and a strong commitment to the communities she serves, going above and beyond.”

Unsung Hero of the Year

PC Dimitra Stewart- Palapanou

Dimitra has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to the Volunteer
Police Cadets. Despite the demands of frontline policing, she demonstrates exceptional
commitment, dedicating significant time, effort and energy to ensuring her cadets receive
the best experiences.

Jun112026

Award success in battle against retail crime

opccNews

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez has acknowledged the success of two determined individuals whose efforts are helping to combat retail crime by presenting them with awards.

Andrew Bond, owner of Torquay family-run business Premier Torbay Central , was presented with the Business Community Champion Award – sponsored by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – at Torbay Business Awards last week.

It was the first of 14 awards to be presented on the night, with Andrew recognised for demonstrating “exceptional resilience, innovation and community leadership in the face of escalating retail crime in Torquay”.

The Commissioner also thanked the other three finalists in the Business Community Champion Award category.

Tom Sharp, CEO of Platinum Security, has been an integral part of the night time economy in Torquay which includes supplying Street Marshals, taxi marshals and door supervisors which is central to a safe night time for a number of establishments across the town.

Anthony Jones who owns Otto and Twenty1 Lounge, is chairman of the Torquay Independent Business Owners and brings together licensees from across the Torquay Harbourside to ensure improvements in the public realm and within the establishments to keep people safe on a night out. He has also encouraged investment by partners to improve street lighting.

Richard Randle-Jones, Union Square Shopping Centre Manager, gave the OPCC and the police the loan of an empty shop which was used to encourage the reporting of crime in the area to Crimestoppers and was also used for police drop-in sessions. It gave a high visibility to efforts being made to tackle issues in the area. He has also been instrumental in helping police tackle shoplifting and ASB within the shopping centre itself.

Winner Andrew, who accepted the award on behalf of himself and his partner Deb, said: “Deb and I were shocked and surprised to win the award. We are thankful the work we do is recognised and what we try to achieve to make Torquay town centre a better and safer place. It’s lovely to be recognised as an independent business.”

In his award nomination, Andrew was also praised for embracing a new innovative business crime reduction solution called UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC). It was introduced in Torbay in spring 2025 as part of the Street Focus Torquay initiative funded for 12 months by the OPCC and is largely used to report shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.

Premier Torbay Central became one of the first local business owners to adopt the system having been blighted by persistent shoplifting and antisocial behaviour. By encouraging other local businesses to join UKPAC, it has amplified its positive impact with convictions secured.

Commissioner Hernandez also acknowledged the successes achieved through UKPAC by recently presenting a Commissioner’s Award to Sgt Chris Chaloner who is responsible for Business Crime & Crime Prevention within Devon & Cornwall Police’s prevention department. It is a special award that recognises outstanding service provided by an individual to help keep communities safe, resilient and connected.

Sgt Chris Chaloner receiving his Commissioner’s Award

Sgt Chaloner leads a team of four Crime Prevention Tactical Advisors who provide specialist advice to police officers and staff, mainly Neighbourhood Policing Teams, and using best practice methods, tools and initiatives from across the country that help reduce crime and from it occurring in the first place. A key part of the success the team has achieved is working with partner agencies to create a joined-up approach to crime prevention.

Another part of Chris’s role is working heavily alongside business communities to improve the service the police provide to help with issues they are experiencing such as shop theft, violence and abuse.

Sgt Chaloner, who also represents the force at a national level, working alongside the National Business Crime Centre and National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “Reported retail crime in Devon and Cornwall is lower compared to a lot of other forces across the country and remains a very safe place to live, work and visit.

“But we have seen large increases of reported shop theft, particularly during 2023/24. Understanding that these issues exist, the impact it has on our communities and providing resource to improve our response, has allowed us to explore new innovative ways of dealing with this by utilising new technology and spending more time working collaboratively with those impacted.

“I have great relationships with lots of retailers, and I am pleased with the progress we have made over the past couple of years, particularly with the introduction of ‘direct to police reporting’ which has increased efficiency and positive outcomes for policing and our retailers across Devon and Cornwall.”

Commissioner Hernandez has expressed her thanks to all three award winners for their exceptional contributions that are helping to combat retail crime.

She said: “I am extremely grateful to our award winners who have demonstrated admirable determination to make our towns and communities safer for everyone.

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

“My office remains committed to tackling retail crime, ASB and violence through initiatives such as UKPAC. If you’re a business that’s being affected by shoplifting or ASB, 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.”

For more information about UKPAC, visit https://uk-pac.com/

Jun102026

Specialist victim support for people with disabilities

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A vulnerable Devon woman who was left feeling suicidal and scared to leave her home after being terrorised by the relentless antisocial behaviour of her neighbour is now recovering from her ordeal thanks to a specialist charity.

Disability Together – which receives funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to provide victim services – is a Devon-based charity offering advice, advocacy and inclusive activities so Disabled and d/Deaf people can live the lives they choose.

Last year Disability Together’s victim services helped 34 victims of crime in Devon and, of those, 23 are still receiving ongoing support due to the complexity of their cases.

Imogen – not her real name – is a 36-year-old woman who was left traumatised after her neighbour made her life and other residents a misery in a block of housing association flats.

She recalled how it began with shouting at all times of the day and night and then progressed to front doors being vandalised and physical attacks. Residents also feared for their safety after the nuisance neighbour made malicious allegations about them on social media.

Imogen said: “She posted on Facebook false and malicious allegations about residents and put our full address on there. She would kick our front doors or hit them with a baseball bat.

“One time I came out of my door and she threw gloss paint at me for no reason and shouted a lot of abuse. Another time she physically attacked one of my neighbour’s.

“I was a prisoner in my own home as I was too scared to go out in case I saw her. I had been through an abusive relationship so her actions brought it all back. It left me feeling suicidal.

“I had to have carers stay with me at night because I was so frightened and my support worker had to start coming with another support worker as a pair for their own safety. They helped get me a doorbell camera which was used to capture evidence.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “It is essential that every victim of crime across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has access to free support tailored to their individual requirements. That is why my office funds more than 40 support services to help them cope and recover.

“I would urge any victim of crime – regardless of whether it has been reported to the police – to visit our Victim Care website to see what help is available.”

Imogen’s ordeal lasted for around 12 months, during which the offender, who has mental health difficulties, spent a short time in prison for the offences and was eventually evicted. She is now living in a different county, and a court order is in place which forbids her from being able to have any contact with the residents in the block of flats or being within close proximity to it.

Imogen said: “It takes me a while to process things but it was such a relief when she left. I was really petrified about her coming back. It took me a few weeks before I could downstairs again, hang my washing outside or sit in the garden. She took away all those things.”

It has now been just over a year since she left. Imogen’s doctors signposted her to a disability team in Newton Abbot for support. It was through them that she heard about Disability Together around six months ago. She is continuing to receive in-house counselling.

She recalled: “I had been begging for help and support because I was feeling anxious and not myself and was having nightmares.

“I was thinking about what had happened constantly but the counselling I have received has now taught me to do something active when that happens and I feel so much better after.

“Disability Together has made a big difference to my life. They always check up on me. I think there needs to be more awareness about the support you can get, especially for people with disabilities because they understand you need a different type of support.”

Disability Together provides information, advice and wellbeing support for Disabled, d/Deaf people and people with long-term health conditions across Devon. Its support services include accessible counselling, peer support, and opportunities to meet new people.

The service recognises that and Disabled and d/Deaf people victims can face additional barriers to reporting crime, accessing support and recovering from trauma, making specialist advocacy very important.

Heather Reilly, Disability Together victim services co-ordinator, said: “We are specifically tailored to help people with disabilities. The support we provide is very person-centred for that individual and almost a wraparound service. They can be helped by our own inhouse services, or we can refer them to other organisations.

“The crimes we support people through are completely varied from neighbourhood youth issues right through to cases of sexual assault or a stabbing. We see a lot of romance fraud and credit fraud, especially among people with learning disabilities.

“Often we see repeat victims who don’t know how to keep themselves safe, so a huge part of what we provide is safety advice. I’ve had people say that we have helped give them back their life and we will continue doing that.”

Referrals to Disability Together victim services need to be made via the Devon & Cornwall Police Victim Care Unit by visiting Home – Victim Care Devon & Cornwall or call 01392 475900 (8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm weekends and bank holidays).

To report a crime, contact Devon & Cornwall Police 101 for non-emergencies or online via Report | Devon & Cornwall Police

Jun82026

Strong leadership has never been more important

opccBlog

The importance of scrutinising policing to ensure the public is getting the best service possible was highlighted last week with the publication of an inspection of Devon & Cornwall Police conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) report graded the force’s performance across eight areas in January, and concluded it was adequate in two areas, requires improvement in four areas and was inadequate in two areas.

It highlighted the force has made improvements in the way it responds to calls for service, including how quickly it answers emergency calls, and it continues to prevent crime effectively. There was also praise for the way the police have worked with partners to tackle antisocial behaviour, in particular Street Focus Torquay, a project which was led by my office.

However, inspectors confirmed my concerns about the quality of investigations and the prioritisation of some cases where the force may need to take action to safeguard vulnerable people. They also highlighted some very concerning problems about the service provided to people who have experienced domestic abuse.

This is not acceptable, but none of these things were a surprise to me. The concerns about investigations have previously been highlighted by scrutiny carried out by my office and the issue of how the force can better safeguard vulnerable people is one which my team is currently doing a piece of ‘deep dive’ work on.

The most in depth scrutiny my office has ever carried out was on the quality of investigation files, from interviewing those who put a file together to leaders who oversee the work, along with evaluating the training given which my office identified as poor.

After presenting my findings to the force and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), an improvement plan was generated. It has seen the force being second bottom in the country to the Met Police for file quality to now performing mid-league in the table with plans for further improvements.

One of the main functions of my role is to hold Chief Constable James Vaughan to account for running an efficient and effective police force. Getting the right outcomes for victims is something both I, the Chief Constable and police officers and staff care deeply about. It is one of the reasons the Victim Care Unit, funded by my office, is being relocated to police headquarters in Exeter to ensure victims are at the centre of decision making every day.

I am kept regularly updated on force performance in all areas through day-to-day contact with Mr Vaughan and also my Commissioner’s Accountability Board.

I set up the accountability board, which I chair, in 2025, and hold it on a monthly basis. It is my primary mechanism for holding the Chief Constable to account. He and his Executive team attend in person to explain to me how the force is performing in areas that I have identified require scrutinising in depth.

Where appropriate, at the conclusion of each meeting, I make an assessment as to how well assured I am about both current performance and force plans. I then publish an assurance statement so that the public can see how I am holding the police to account on their behalf.

Our current ‘deep dive’ into how the police are managing and dealing with non-emergency, or ‘routine’ incidents has identified some inefficiencies and inconsistencies in approach across the force and our findings are consistent with the concerns being raised by inspectors.

A draft report has already been provided to the force’s executive team, with the full report due to be discussed at a forthcoming Commissioner’s Accountability Board. A report will be published on my website after that meeting.

Last week the Chief Constable said he will stay in post for as long as I require the stability provided by his strong leadership and for long as I have confidence in him. This is excellent news.

I would like to finish by assuring you that I have a very positive working relationship with His Majesty’s Inspectorate and with Mr Vaughan who is working hard, with my support, to continue the improvement journey he has started.

Jun52026

Celebrating Independent Custody Visitors during Volunteers’ Week

opccNews

As Volunteers’ Week comes to an end, the Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez is reflecting on the work of the main volunteers within her office, Independent Custody Visitors (ICVs).

This week, from June 1 to 7, volunteers throughout the country are being rightly celebrated and acknowledged for their work as part of national Volunteers’ Week.

ICVs are members of the local community who are completely independent of the police and selflessly give up some of their time to check on the welfare of people detained in custody, the conditions in which they are being held, and ensure that their rights and entitlements are being observed.

Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales have a statutory obligation under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act to have an effective ICV scheme in place in their police force area.

The reason for this is that for many people, arriving in a custody suite can be a daunting and frightening experience and they may not be aware of their rights or entitlements. The ICV scheme offers protection and confidentiality to detainees and provides reassurance to the Commissioner that the custody environment within Devon and Cornwall is working well, or the ability to flag vital issues not being addressed promptly.

In Devon and Cornwall, we are fortunate to currently have 24 ICVs who are recruited by the OPCC. Of those, 11 are new volunteers who began their role at the beginning of the year, and13 are women and 11 are men- all representing a range of different ages and backgrounds.

ICVs visit police stations across Devon and Cornwall in a pair, unannounced, and then submit a report of their findings to the OPCC and the local custody inspector, allowing the Commissioner to perform her duty of scrutinising Devon & Cornwall Police’s custody management. If any areas of concern are highlighted by the ICVs, it is the Commissioner’s duty to call for immediate action to be taken and ensure it is conducted through continued rigorous monitoring.

In the last financial year from April 2025 to March 2026, ICVs conducted a total of 128 visits at custody centres throughout Devon and Cornwall, including Exeter, Torquay, Plymouth, Barnstaple, Newquay, and Camborne.

Encouragingly, reports for most of those visits were consistently positive and ICVs often received positive feedback directly from detainees regarding how they had been treated.

However, issues raised included concerns over the maintenance of the custody estate, such as broken CCTV in a custody suite which has since been fixed, gaps in healthcare provision on some occasions and staff shortages.

No significant issues have been raised following ICV visits so far this year.

When ICVs arrive at a custody suite, they are escorted to the custody centre by a Custody Sergeant. ICVs independently decide which detainees to visit, prioritising anyone who is vulnerable, women and children.

Strict rules of confidentiality mean that ICVs are not told detainees’ names or why they are in custody, and detainees must give their consent to be visited.

The checks ICVs conduct are to ensure people in custody are being treated properly such as that the cell is clean, they have access to food that caters for different diets, water, distraction items and to make sure they have been offered a solicitor.

ICVs can also inspect custody records with the detainee’s consent, which are a record of everything that happens while a detainee is in custody. ICVs can use this information to corroborate any statements made by the detainee and to ensure that the detainee’s rights and entitlements are being upheld.

Immediate areas of concern can be raised with the Custody Sergeant or the Custody Inspector if the matter cannot be resolved immediately or is of a serious nature that requires ongoing attention.

Visits typically last between 30 minutes and two hours and can be conducted on any day at any time.

ICVs must be 18 years old or over, independent of the police service, live or work in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and have been resident in the UK for the three years prior to application.

No specific experience or qualifications are required and ICVs are taught the role during a probationary period that lasts around six months. Further mandatory training is provided via online courses and meetings.

The time commitment required once trained is around one to two visits a month.

On Wednesday, June 3, the ICVs for Devon and Cornwall, alongside the ICV Scheme Manager, attended a special Volunteers’ Week event hosted by the Independent Visiting Association (ICVA).

ICVA celebrated the work of ICVs from across the UK and shared a spotlight impact report on ICVs, new custody animations and updated ICVs on ICVA workstreams. It highlighted the impact ICVs have made and their work was both acknowledged and celebrated.

The Commissioner recently met with some of Devon and Cornwall OPCC’s fantastic volunteers at one of their regular group meetings and she was once again impressed by the passion and dedication they each have for their role. The Commissioner continues to have great appreciation for the work the ICVs undertake, being her eyes and ears on the ground in custody within Devon and Cornwall.

She said: “I would like to express my sincere thanks not to just our ICVs but all those across the country, and to every volunteer within different organisations whose contributions are indescribably valued within our communities. Life is a richer place thanks to the gift of time they give to people from all walks of life.”

Jun32026

Commissioner confident Chief Constable has plan to make much needed improvements

opccNews

Responding to the report published by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez has said she is confident the Chief Constable is making the changes needed to improve the service the public receive from Devon & Cornwall Police.

The report is based on a PEEL (Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy) inspection visit in January this year. It finds the force has made improvements in the way it responds to calls for service, including how quickly it answers emergency calls, and it continues to prevent crime effectively. There is also praise for the way the police have worked with partners to tackle antisocial behaviour. However, inspectors remain concerned about several areas of performance including the quality of investigations, the prioritisation of some cases where the force may need to take action to safeguard vulnerable people, and the service provided to people who have experienced domestic abuse.

In a statement, Commissioner Hernandez said: “I would like to thank His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services for their work, and their ongoing assistance in helping me hold the Chief Constable to account on behalf of the public.

“I am concerned but not surprised by the findings of this inspection report. Members of the public deserve a better service and it’s right that the force is working at pace to make the necessary improvements.

“Many of the issues being raised by His Majesty’s Inspectorate are consistent with those identified during the regular and ongoing scrutiny undertaken by my office. I have an important role in holding the Chief Constable to account, including through the monthly meeting of my Commissioner’s Accountability Board, and I will do all I can to ensure the force implements the recommendations being made.

“I am pleased to see the work the force is doing to tackle antisocial behaviour being acknowledged by inspectors, as this is the consistently the number one issue raised in public surveys carried out by my office.

“It is also reassuring to see the strong leadership of Chief Constable James Vaughan being recognised, both by inspectors, and by the workforce survey which they carried out alongside their visit. I share that confidence in Mr Vaughan, and I am pleased he has agreed to stay in post for as long as I require the stability provided by his leadership.”

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