£350k unveiled to make Devon and Cornwall safer this summer
The money will fund more than 50 projects - including in Plymouth, Exeter, and Torquay
Devon and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner is cracking down on crime this summer.
Alison Hernandez is investing hundreds of thousands of pounds to make the two counties safer.
It is hoped the money will prevent antisocial behaviour (ASB) and create safer settings for the night-time economy.
£350,000 has been allocated by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, to tie in with police force's wider summer policing operational preparation.
The Evening and Night-Time Economy (ENTE) and ASB in public spaces were chosen as deliberate themes after they were highlighted as potential issues this summer following the anticipated Covid unlock on July 19.
The money will fund more than 50 projects. This includes specific help in 18 late night hotspot locations throughout the South West: including Plymouth, Exeter, Barnstaple, Newquay, Falmouth, Paignton and Torquay.
Support is also being provided in a broader range of locations across Devon and Cornwall with £100,000 extra funding given to community safety partnerships to support projects to reduce antisocial behaviour by young people in public spaces.
The funding is supporting a variety of preventative projects including youth intervention and sports clubs, specialist night-time economy marshals, extra CCTV provision, radio systems to link key premises and 'Street Angels' to help safeguard vulnerable drinkers.
"I'm delighted to make this funding available for what promises to be a unique summer season across the South West.
"Tourism is the lifeblood of Devon and Cornwall and it's easy to see why we are the number one domestic tourist destination in the UK.
"With the long-running Covid restrictions set to be removed, it's understandable that both locals and visitors will be wanting to make the most of their new-found freedoms and enjoy the summer.
"However, it's important this does not veer into criminality or behaviour that can make normal people feel threatened or vulnerable.
"The measures we are funding will help us keep an eye on both antisocial behaviour and the night-time economy and hopefully prevent any unwanted scenarios, allowing everyone to enjoy themselves."
Alison Hernandez - Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall
The full list of hotspot locations identified:
- Plymouth - Barbican/Hoe
- Plymouth - City Centre/Union Street
- Plymouth - North Hill/Mutley Plain
- Cornwall - Bude
- Cornwall - Falmouth
- Cornwall - Liskeard
- Cornwall - Newquay
- Cornwall - St Austell
- Cornwall - Truro Centre/Lemon Quay
- Cornwall - Penzance
- Devon - Barnstaple
- Devon - Bideford
- Devon - Exeter Quay/City Centre
- Devon - Ilfracombe
- Devon - Tiverton
- Devon - Newton Abbot
- Devon - Paignton Town Centre
- Devon - Torquay Town Centre/Harbour