It doesn’t seem possible it was 12 months ago I introduced the new initiative Street Focus Torquay. A real hands on approach to dealing with persistent street crime – drug dealing, shoplifting and antisocial behaviour (ASB) – after residents and businesses told me they were fed up. 

My role as Police Crime Commissioner is to be your voice in policing and make sure the issues you are experiencing are being tackled. However, effective and sustained change can only be implemented by forming a united front with everyone working side by side from multiple agencies to members of the local community. 

The Street Focus Torquay effort was convened by my office with Devon & Cornwall Police, Torbay Council and other local partners in June 2024 after my office secured £1 million from the Home Office to fund hotspot policing in multiple locations across Devon and Cornwall, including Castle Circus in Torquay.  

Within the past 12 months in Torquay, it has resulted in more than 1,000 hours of additional hotspot foot patrols and responded to more than 80 ASB incidents were attended. Street marshals have also been making a significant impact, including having engaged with nearly 5,300 members of the public and made almost 3,000 premises visits. 

Police visibility and action is vital. I can assure that there has – and continues to be – lots of work going on behind the scenes to create further improvements.  

Recently I was able to confirm I have secured a further £1 million to continue hotspot patrols over the next 12 months, including in Torquay. Unfortunately, the town has one of the highest rates of recorded crime in Devon and Cornwall, but it’s clear that the true picture is even greater than that because not all crime is being reported. 

That’s why I have also committed to funding a 12-month subscription pilot for Torbay businesses called UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) Business Crime Reduction Solution. It is software that enables a business crime reduction solution. 

Issues such as shoplifting, ASB and violence can now easily be reported to police without evidence via an online portal which is hoped to lead to persistent offenders being successfully prosecuted, making the high street and other areas a safer place to live, work and visit. 

My safer streets commitment is also being delivered by further funding and expanding the successful night bus scheme which runs on Saturday nights until the end of the year in key areas within Devon and Cornwall, including Torquay. This is to ensure those enjoying night time economy can get home safely. 

During the first week of its launch this month, the area with the highest numbers of passengers – 185 – was recorded in Torquay, proving why it is such a vital service. 

Last week I hosted my fourth partners breakfast in Torquay to celebrate the success of Street Focus Torquay within the past 12 months. It was also exciting and encouraging to hear everyone’s plans for the next year. 

I would like to thank everyone who has helped us get to the point where we are now at. Everyone has gone above and beyond. We are one year on and things have got better. We still have a long way to go, but we will get there. 

We share a combined vision of wanting to help the most vulnerable and keep people safe. We have got police enforcement right, and partnership working right, but we need to look at issues such as drug treatment availability in Torquay and how we develop facilities to tackle drug and alcohol dependency and homelessness. 

I recently took a road trip with Torbay councillors to show them a homeless hostel in St Austell that has great facilities, policies and location with grounds. We still need to find a better solution for Torbay than a town centre location with limited space to help our most exploited and vulnerable homeless people. 

I have seen for myself how much the town has changed in recent years – having been a long-term Torquay resident – but from the improvements we have introduced within the past 12 months, I remain optimistic the town can once again be known as a jewel in the crown of the English Riviera.