Dealing with the summer influx

As summer arrives, so too does the familiar rise in population across Devon. Our stunning coastlines, beautiful countryside and vibrant towns and cities attract millions of visitors each year - a point of pride for those of us lucky enough to call this region home.

- Alison Hernandez

But for policing, summer brings significant challenges that require careful planning, strong partnerships and unwavering professionalism.

Our region welcomes almost 40 million domestic tourist visits annually - a figure that surges in July and August. This influx places considerable pressure on police resources, as demand rises for everything from emergency response to neighbourhood policing, traffic management and public safety at major events.

This year, the Government has announced a new Safer Streets Summer initiative aimed at addressing these exact pressures, asking police forces across the country to plan for increased demand during the warmer months.