£1m sees 'hotspot' policing continue

A SCHEME which delivered more than 26,000 hours of additional foot patrols in towns and cities across Devon and Cornwall has been extended thanks to a £1 million funding boost.

- by STAFF REPORTER

The hotspot policing initiative is designed to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB) and serious violence, with targeted police and street marshal patrols in areas with the highest levels of crime.

The project, which was initially launched in May 2024, was made possible through £1m of Home Office funding.

The Home Office has now committed a further £1m to continue hotspot patrols over the next 12 months expanding the scheme to include two new hotspots, in Tiverton and Bodmin.

The funding pays for additional officer time to conduct the targeted patrols, providing a boost in visible policing where it is needed most.

Local crime data is used to identify areas with the highest levels of crime and ASB.

While the priority is to prevent crime, the targeted approach to patrolling places police and partners in the right place at the right time, enabling proactive action.

In the past year, this has led to:

>> 26,821 hours of hotspot patrols

>> 2,211 pieces of intelligence submitted

>> 190 Public Protection Notices or safeguarding referrals

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