Increased police activity for Exeter city centre
Devon & Cornwall Police are stepping up patrols in Exeter city centre in response to public concerns about anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol use and violence.
The increased police response aims to supplement the work of the City’s Community Safety Partnership which has spent two years responding to community concerns through its Government funded Safer Streets projects.
Sidwell Street, High Street, Fore Street, South Street and Gandy Street will see an increased police presence led by Exeter‘s Neighbourhood Policing Teams and will be supported by officers from across the force. They will be deployed to tackle the key issues being experienced in the city.
Officers want to increase visibility and engagement levels with residents, students, visitors and local businesses and are working with partners to improve the city for everyone.
Superintendent Antony Hart, who heads up policing for the Exeter, East & Mid Devon Local Policing Area, said: “We have listened to the public’s concerns and are committed to keeping Exeter safe. Criminal behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated and we will pro-actively pursue those causing harm through crime.
“This period of focused policing activity is intended to maximise and improve the safety and confidence of members of the public, including the business community and those enjoying the evening and night-time economy.”
Peter Scargill, chair of Exeter Community Safety Partnership (CSP), said: “As partners in the CSP we have, in the last two years, used Government funding to improve CCTV and street lighting, to ask women in Exeter how safe they feel and, as a result designed and published a charter which addresses those concerns. We have now signed up nearly 200 local businesses committed to that charter.
“We have successfully opened and are running a Safe Space to help people when they feel vulnerable on a night out in the city. We have delivered bystander intervention training to hundreds of people to give them the skills to intervene when they see people being harassed.
“We continue to work with students encouraging them to be more considerate neighbours and we have supported community projects aimed at making the city a better place to live, work and play. We welcome the police operation in support of our work.”
The operation will include:
- Increased officer presence throughout the day and evening at key times and key locations
- A focus on tackling anti-social behaviour, street drinking and drug consumption
- Misuse of drugs act warrants
- Licensing checks
- Shoplifting patrols
- Use of anti-social behaviour legislation
- Increased use of Stop and Search powers
- Surveys and engagement
- Using force resources in support of local police teams, such as the roads policing team and prevention department
- Deploying police cadets and the Special Constabulary
- Partnership operations
