Last chance to have say on policing in Devon

Devon and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner is urging people to give their views on policing before the deadline this Sunday.

Alison Hernandez is faced with her annual decision on setting police precepts – the amount households pay locally towards policing through their council tax bills – and says she wants to know how the force is doing.

The commissioner also hopes to gauge how much support there is for plans to open more police stations to the public.

When first elected in 2016, Ms Hernandez promised to review the closure of police stations and to improve crime reporting through the 101 service.

For the 2022/23 financial year starting in April, Police and Crime Commissioners have been given flexibility to increase the precept by up to £10 a year for a Band D Property for the next three years.

Currently those in band D households in Devon and Cornwall pay £236.56 a year towards policing.

Last month Home Secretary Priti Patel also announced an increase in the amount forces will receive from central government.

The commissioner said: "We have had what appears to be a reasonable settlement from central government for Devon and Cornwall.

"It will allow us to continue on our upwards trajectory in police officer numbers that was already being funded by local taxpayers here before the Prime Minister announced the national uplift.

"This has enabled budgeted force strength to grow by 498 officers since 2016/17 to 3,422 officers this financial year. The force is set to grow by another 188 officers in 2022/23, taking force strength to a record high.

"This increase is helping to keep Devon and Cornwall as counties with some of the lowest recorded crime rates in the country, but there are still significant challenges ahead.

"Inflation means the force is facing significant additional costs, crime types like domestic abuse are now being reported and recorded more effectively – this is an extremely welcome development but it means our force is dealing with more calls for help than ever before."

The survey – which can be completed online at www.devonandcornwall-pcc.gov.uk – also asks questions about how people contact the police.

It can be completed anonymously and the results will be published in a report to the meeting of the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel on Friday, January 28.