£350,000 to help make Cornwall and Devon safer at night this summer
The money will be spent on preventing antisocial behaviour and creating safer settings in late night hotspots
Last updated 9th Jul 2021
Hundreds of thousands of pounds has been invested across Cornwall and Devon to prevent antisocial behaviour and create safer settings for the night-time economy.
£350,000 has been allocated by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to tie in with summer policing preparations.
The evening and night-time economy and ASB in public spaces were chosen after being highlighted as potential issues this summer, following the anticipated Covid unlock on July 19th.
The money will fund more than 50 projects, including specific help in 18 late night hotspot locations from Penzance to Plymouth.
Support is also being provided in a broader range of locations across Devon and Cornwall, with £100,000 extra funding given to community safety partnerships to support projects to reduce antisocial behaviour by young people in public spaces.
The funding is supporting a variety of preventative projects including youth intervention and sports clubs, specialist night-time economy marshals, extra CCTV provision, radio systems to link key premises and 'Street Angels' to help safeguard vulnerable drinkers.
The locations in Cornwall are Bude, Falmouth, Liskeard, Newquay, St Austell, Truro Centre/Lemon Quay and Penzance.
Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "I'm delighted to make this funding available for what promises to be a unique summer season across the South West.
"Tourism is the lifeblood of Devon and Cornwall and it's easy to see why we are the number one domestic tourist destination in the UK.
"With the long-running Covid restrictions set to be removed, it's understandable that both locals and visitors will be wanting to make the most of their new-found freedoms and enjoy the summer.
"However, it's important this does not veer into criminality or behaviour that can make normal people feel threatened or vulnerable.
"The measures we are funding will help us keep an eye on both antisocial behaviour and the night-time economy and hopefully prevent any unwanted scenarios, allowing everyone to enjoy themselves".
Devon and Cornwall PCC, Alison Hernandez
Chief Superintendent Dan Evans, Police Silver Commander for the Summer and Chair of the Safer Devon Partnership, said: "The summer always poses a significant and unique challenge for us in Devon and Cornwall.
"This year we will have to deal with the backdrop of COVID-19 and a potential increase in visitors to the area compared to previous years. This will ultimately see an increase in demand on the services of all emergency services and partner agencies.
"Devon & Cornwall Police have been planning for the Summer for some time, we have plans in place to deal with the threats identified and have additional resources available should we need them.
"The additional funding provided by the OPCC to Community Safety Partnerships across Devon and Cornwall will be used to better focus our resources and attention at specific hotspots - dealing with youth antisocial behaviour and antisocial behaviour associated with the evening and night time economy ENTE.
"The money made available will facilitate us working in partnership to deal with these issues rather than any agency dealing with them in isolation".
Chief Superintendent Dan Evans