Police budget to deliver "record number" of officers in Devon and Cornwall
Plans being considered by our Police and Crime Panel would see a £10 a year rise in council tax
Last updated 28th Jan 2022
A panel is being asked to consider a budget 'that would deliver record a record number of police officers' across Devon and Cornwall.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez, says her proposals would see staff levels within our force increase to 3,610 in 2022/23 – more than in any year since it was formed in 1967.
Officials say the Devon and Cornwall force is on track to have added 686 officers to ranks since 2017.
The plans include £8m investment to support victims and prevent people from committing more crime.
The Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel will meet to consider the budget on Friday.
Budget would deliver a 'record number' of police officers
Devon and Cornwall Police was formed in 1967 and, at its peak in 2015, had 3,500 officers before these were reduced by austerity measures.
After five years of increases funded locally and through a national uplift, the budget will take that figure to 3,610.
To support increasing costs the panel will consider a draft budget that will raise the policing precept, which is how much we pay for policing through council tax, by £10 a year.
That would mean rise to £246.56 for a band D property for the next financial year.
The total revenue for the force will be £379m with 59% from central government and 41% from council tax contributions.
If proposals get the green light the force is on track to have added 686 officers to its ranks since 2016/17.
A total of 5,316 people took part in a survey run by the commissioner to inform her budget decision-making.
"Desire in our communities to recruit more officers"
Alison Hernandez said: "It was made clear to me in 2016 that there was a desire in our communities to recruit more officers and a willingness to ‘pay more to get more.
"Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are challenging areas to police, with rural, coastal, island and city communities and with crime challenges like violence and drugs. I therefore made officer recruitment a priority and am pleased that with our community’s support we have been able to work towards a position where there will be more officers In Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly than ever before.
"Our residents have invested in policing, the next year will be about ensuring that investment is felt by reduced crime, increased visibility of officers and increased confidence in the force while working on our key strategic priorities of reducing drug dealing, serious violence, road deaths and antisocial behaviour".
The panel will also consider the Commissioner’s plans for investment of almost £8m in victim services and serious violence prevention for the next financial year.
This 'Commissioning Intentions Plan' details how the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care service has supported more than 20,000 victims of crime in the last full financial year, with a 23% increase in the number of people supported
"We must do everything we can to stop people getting involved in crime"
In the current financial year the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner secured central government investment of more than £1.5m to spend on services for residents of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly through partnerships like Plymouth Together, which was put in place to support those affected by the Keyham shooting last August.
"We must do everything we can to stop people getting involved in crime through prevention and intervention work, and when people are affected by crime I want to ensure we have the resources in place to help people recover quickly. I believe this budget delivers on both of those ambitions", Alison Hernandez said.
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary was formed in 1967 from the merger of the Devon and Exeter Constabularies with that of Plymouth and Cornwall. Initial officer strength was 2,143.
The force is currently open for recruitment and anyone considering a career in policing can find out more and register an interest on the Devon and Cornwall Police website.