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Mar122026

Our flag is for everyone, says police hate crime advisor

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

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.

Mar62026

Police refuse to tolerate misogyny

opccNews

Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Leaper – the most senior female officer in Devon & Cornwall Police – has spoken out for the first time at a public event about being subjected to misogynistic and hateful comments from members of the public on social media after sharing vital news about the disposal of an unexploded Second World War bomb in Exmouth.

During a guest speaker slot within the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner ‘justice’ hour at the West Country Women’s International Women’s Day Plymouth 2026: ‘Rights. Justice. Action’, today, March 6, ACC Leaper recalled how she unexpectedly found herself at the centre of a barrage of hostile comments on social media based on her appearance and position as a senior female officer.

It came after the force published an informative update on its Facebook page in January confirming all cordons had been lifted in the town and the device was being disposed of at sea. It was accompanied by a photograph of ACC Leaper at the scene in her police uniform.

Instead of being praised for her leadership, dedication and the positive outcome achieved, negative comments included ‘lifted the cordon, like her face’, ‘only a face a mother could love’ and ‘I now believe in vampires’.

ACC Leaper, who has served as a police officer for almost 23 years, admitted that she was “not shocked” by the comments because of the number of misogynistic incidents she has encountered during her career, but said she was concerned about the impact it had on her colleagues.

She recalled: “I had been the duty officer for more than 11 days without a day off. I had also been Gold Commander for Storm Goretti and the police lead for two Second World War bombs in Exmouth and Plymouth. I had only had five hours sleep in two days.

“When my picture was taken by a colleague for the social media post it was 6am and we were still waiting for the Exmouth bomb to be detonated.

“I was later contacted by colleagues who were really upset by the ‘ridiculous’ comments which, at that point, I had not seen. I wasn’t shocked which is really telling about the society we live in. I expect it because that’s what you get whether you’re a senior female leader, celebrity, or politician.

“Despite women doing the same jobs as men they are judged differently. It can burn you out and stop women from wanting leadership roles.”

Out of all the negative Facebook comments ACC Leaper received, she says the ones that impacted her the most were ‘only a face a mother could love’ having recently held her mother in arms while she passed away, and those that questioned her operational experience.

She said: “A positive that came out of it all was the supportive communications I received from senior leaders and the Chief Constable’s reactive Facebook post which helped promote female role models.

“I even received flowers from members of the public and a card from a man saying, ‘we’re extremely lucky to have such a dedicated, caring and professional ACC in Devon and Cornwall Police’. Misogynistic comments are not acceptable and we need to hear more positive male voices in this arena.”

The OPCC ‘justice’ hour also included honest and frank speeches from Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez and Chief Constable James Vaughan on justice, VAWG and empowering women. The Chef also pledged that there was no place for misogyny either in or outside the police force.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez speaking at the IWD event

Rebecca Hewitt, Teignbridge District Council strategy and policy manager and chair of South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership, who has been awarded £100,000 from the OPCC to expand an impactful Let’s Talk programme, talked about different projects which are aiming to help tackle violence against women and young girls.

Essential information was also provided about the free support available to victims via Sarah West, manager of Devon & Cornwall Police Victim Care Unit.

The annual International Women’s Day event, held at the Crowne Plaza, was attended by the High Sheriff of Devon, Caroline Harlow; the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Kathy Watkin; representatives from Torbay Council, the University of Plymouth, local charities, organisations and businesses, and women of all ages with an interest in celebrating the achievements of women across the region.

Other inspirational speakers throughout the day included, Sophie Mortimer, manager of the Revenge Porn Helpline, Dr Joanitha Ntangeki, founder of Plymouth’s Sisters Talk Foundation and Sarah Sabater – CEO and founder of CareYourWay.

Globally, International Women’s Day takes place on Sunday, March 8. This year’s theme is Give to Gain which encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration.

Mar22026

Knife Angel swoops into Plymouth to help keep communities safe

opccBlog

The challenge of tackling knife crime here in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is a very different one than faced by police forces in other parts of the country.

Incidents, no matter how isolated or rare, are always shocking and understandably send ripples of fear throughout communities. But, thankfully, our force area is not in the midst of a knife crime crisis.

According to the most recent Devon & Cornwall Police data, in the 12 months to January 2026, there were 3,007 incidents of recorded knife related crime. This is similar to the number of offences recorded in the previous year where 2,995 offences were recorded.

The police estimate that one in 2,000 people in Devon and Cornwall carry a knife. However, my office’s recent survey of young people and adults identified they worried about people carrying weapons on our streets. The more we can do to deter people from carrying a knife and show that we act to prevent their concerns the better from stop and search to education initiatives.

The wider harms of knife crime can never be underestimated, with incidents often linked to domestic abuse, alcohol related incidents, criminal exploitation and mental health or self-harm crises. It is imperative that we help educate people around these risks and provide the support they need before things escalate.

That is why my office, along with a contribution from the Community Safety Partnership’s Serious Violence Duty fund, has helped fund the installation of an imposing 27ft (8m) tall sculpture called Knife Angel in Plymouth. It has been created from more than 100,000 seized or surrendered blades and will be officially unveiled between the Plymouth Civic Centre and Guildhall buildings in the city centre tomorrow, March 3.

It will be illuminated each evening and will remain there throughout March with educational events taking place throughout the month in schools across the city and also bystander intervention training to help people speak up when they witness violence, harassment or discrimination.

The Knife Angel has visited more than 50 locations since its tour of the UK began in 2018 and has become regarded as a national monument to raise awareness of the devastating impact of knife crime and to encourage education, prevention and remembrance.

The decision for it to be located in Plymouth does not mean the city has a knife crime problem. In fact, knife attacks remain relatively rare, but every single one that takes place is one too many.

That’s why I am supportive of any initiative that encourages people to choose not to carry knives, to safely surrender any knives they hold, and to take part in a programme of education and community engagement designed to prevent violence and protect lives. 

Bringing it to Devon has been a collective effort between by office, Devon & Cornwall Police and Plymouth City Council, working alongside a wide range of partners including schools and multi academy trusts, youth services, domestic abuse specialists, mental health and substance misuse providers, community and voluntary groups, faith organisations and Mike’s Trust – a charity set up by the family of murdered knife victim Michael Riddiough-Allen who died in 2023 after he was stabbed outside a nightclub in Bodmin. It is a tangible example that we don’t tolerate carrying a knife in our area and how working in collaboration can achieve longer-term impact which will continue beyond March.

Notable efforts are being Devon & Cornwall Police to tackle knife crime. Last November, the force launched a new knife crime website called #NotTheOne which is part of a national partnership-led campaign that aims to educate 11 to 16-year-olds on the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife.

Importantly, it also helps teachers, parents, friends and family who all play a hugely vital role in positively influencing young people’s lives and stop them being drawn into knife crime.

Recently, the force collaborated with talented students from City College, Plymouth, to create two educational videos about knife crime made by young people for young people to bust the myth that you are safer if you carry a knife. The reality is that it’s the opposite because it actually increases your risk of harm.

To change the alarming real and perceived knife crime culture requires early education and challenging behaviours so that we can hopefully see the number of incidents not only continue to decrease in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly but also other parts of the country.

If you know anyone who is carrying a knife, please take action in one of the following ways:

Report it to the police at dc.police.uk/tua
Knife surrender bins are permanently situated in local police stations across the region. Visit dc.police.uk/peo
Report anonymously to CrimeStoppers UK on 0800 555111
The #NotTheOne website can be found here
The Knife Angel website can be found here

Feb262026

Building confidence to identify and respond to stalking

opccNews

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is proud to launch new training to help frontline professionals identify and respond to evidence of stalking.

The sessions will be delivered online throughout March by national charity the Hollie Gazzard Trust.

Hollie was just 20 years old when she was murdered by her abusive ex-partner while working at a Gloucester hairdressing salon. During their relationship, she was subjected to coercive and controlling behaviour. After she ended the relationship, the abuse escalated into stalking.

Hollie’s family were unaware of the risk she faced. Her ex-partner’s behaviour was not recognised as stalking, and the danger she was in was not fully understood. Her death highlights the devastating consequences of missed opportunities to identify stalking and intervene early.

The training has been commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly using grant funding from the Ministry of Justice.

It is for anyone working with the public, including:

Specialist domestic abuse practitioners

Family support and early help workers

Victim advocates

Social workers

Housing officers

Youth workers

Police officers and staff

Magistrates/Judiciary

Crown Prosecution Service

There are six four-hour sessions being offered and a video of the training will be available online for a year.

The sessions focus on identifying stalking early and protecting those at greatest risk of serious harm.

Stalking behaviour is described by the Crown Prosecution Service as fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated. Stalking is a high-risk form of abuse strongly linked to serious violence, yet stalking is frequently misunderstood, minimised, or misidentified as harassment until the risk has escalated.

This project aims to equip professionals with the knowledge and confidence to:

Identify stalking behaviours early

Understand why ex-partner stalking is high risk

Recognise how stalking differs from harassment

Apply a basic understanding of the law on stalking

Assess risk and implement effective safeguarding

Signpost victims to specialist stalking support

This training draws on lived experience, evidence, and best practice to strengthen professional responses — and ultimately to help prevent serious harm before it occurs.

To find out more, visit the Hollie Gazzard Trust.

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