Four more police enquiry desks to be opened in Devon and Cornwall
The Police and Crime Commissioner is setting out her spending plans at a meeting today
Last updated 2nd Feb 2024
Four more police enquiry desks are set to open across Devon and Cornwall.
It comes ahead of today's (Friday 2nd February) Police and Crime Panel meeting, where the Police and Crime Commissioner will present her next budget.
The proposed budget for 2024-25 includes a £12.96 (4.95%) rise in the precept paid by a band D property in the force area, taking band D precepts to £274.50 a year.
So far 13 police enquiry offices (PEOs) have opened across the two counties - Alison Hernandez hopes to open 18 in total.
The Commissioner is looking to accelerate this plan by reopening four in the next financial year:
"Connecting communities to the police force which serves them has been the underlying principle of my Police and Crime Plans, and the opening of 18 more police enquiry offices is one example of how I can deliver on that principle.
"Police Enquiry Offices are places of safety where the public can get help and advice and offer an alternative to the phone in terms of a method of contact.
"Working with local partners on this project has been very rewarding, and it has been hugely gratifying to see the impact this investment has made in our communities, whose contribution via taxation has made it all possible."
A new PEO will open in Exeter city centre, at a location to be confirmed and in addition to that at the city’s Middlemoor Police Station.
PEOs in Tavistock, Ivybridge and Liskeard will also be reopened. The projects were due to be delivered over two financial years but this has been compressed, with all four due to reopen before April next year.
The first PEO to be reopened was in Newquay in 2020. Tiverton, Newton Abbot, Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, Bude PEOs followed in 2021-22. Okehampton, Ilfracombe, Honiton, Kingsbridge, Devonport and Looe are being reopened in early 2024.
Liskeard central councillor Nick Craker said: "Liskeard has called for this front desk to reopen for some time, it will mean a great deal to the Liskeard community and enable better links between the police and public."
The final PEO delivered will be via the redevelopment of Exmouth Police Station, a £5m project which the Commissioner is seeking planning permission for.