Plymouth will see more police and Plymouth Against Retail Crime (PARC) officers on patrol in some of the city’s crime hotspots, thanks to Home Office funding and the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner.
The Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner has received £1 million to increase patrols in targeted hotspot areas to reduce antisocial behaviour and serious violence. A total of 16 hotspot areas have been identified by analysing crime data over the last year and will receive additional police patrols and uniformed community patrols, such as marshals and street wardens.
As part of this funding Plymouth has received a portion to keep the streets safer on the Barbican, the Hoe and city centre.
Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “It is great news that we have received some funding to help keep our city safer. We have some excellent initiatives in place such as the Help Points and the Safe Bus already in our city, but there is always more to be done to help make people feel safer when they are out and about and to help put a stop to antisocial behaviour.
“Extra street patrols about in the city centre will help residents have peace of mind.”
Steve Hughes, Chief Executive of the Plymouth City Centre Company, personally lobbied the police and crime commissioner for the funding. He said: “This funding will reassure local businesses; they will feel more at ease that this is being managed and there are things in place to keep the streets safer.
“The impact of antisocial behaviour is significant, not just on the business itself but for the people working, everyone should feel safe when they are at work.”
The funding is part of a wider street focus initiative led by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, which involves working with partners including local authorities to tackle issues in the community, and is a partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police, Community Connections and PARC.