Devon and Cornwall police put local officers in the spotlight

The people who patrol your street, knock on doors after a break-in and turn up at the community meeting have a week of their own. Devon and Cornwall Police are marking Neighbourhood Policing Week, a national week of action built around the officers who work closest to where people live. And the force says this is the part of policing it leans on hardest.

A spotlight on the local beat

The national week recognises neighbourhood officers, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and staff who work alongside residents, partners and local organisations to prevent crime, deal with concerns and improve community safety.

Across Devon and Cornwall, the force says neighbourhood policing sits at the heart of how it operates. Every area has officers based in the communities they serve, offering a visible and accessible presence, listening to local priorities and tackling the issues people care about most. That runs from anti-social behaviour and retail crime through to safeguarding vulnerable people.

Throughout the week, teams will be highlighting the work they do and the difference they make in their own patches.

What the force says

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew QPM said the week is a chance to show the role officers play in building trust, listening to local concerns and working alongside communities to keep people safe. “Policing is at its strongest when it’s rooted in relationships, and that’s exactly what neighbourhood policing is all about,” Glen said.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said teams across the peninsula do an incredible job all year round to keep communities safe. She pointed to the government’s Neighbourhood Police Guarantee, which she said has given Devon and Cornwall Police an uplift in PCSOs. Alison said the grant has been replaced with ringfenced funding for neighbourhood officers, who she described as the ears and eyes on the ground.

How to find your local team

Residents can look up their local officer, check upcoming events and meetings, and read about policing priorities in their area through the force website at www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/area/your-area/

There is also Community Messaging, a two-way email system that lets people living in Devon and Cornwall hear about incidents and events near them and feed information back to officers.