St Ives steps up for summer as street marshals return

St Ives has a problem its own mayor is now willing to name out loud. And the town is not waiting for anyone else to fix it.

St Ives Town Council and St Ives BID have agreed a set of measures to tackle anti-social behaviour across the town this summer. With the police and larger agencies short on resources, local organisations say they are stepping up to answer concerns raised by residents and businesses.

What is changing this summer

Four main measures are being brought in:

• Extra town centre cameras for Memorial Gardens, adding to the six town centre cameras already in place plus locally recording cameras in parks and hotspot areas
• The return of the accredited street marshals service for 10 weeks over the summer months
• A security lock-up of town centre parks and gardens in the late evening
• Support for extra activities for children and young people

The street marshals will be jointly funded by the BID and the Town Council. The new cameras are being paid for by the Town Council, with funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner.

‘A hot spot in West Cornwall’

The Mayor of St Ives, Councillor Andrew Mitchell, did not soften the picture.

“St Ives is now a hot spot for anti-social behaviour in West Cornwall,” he said. “The Council has listened to many local residents and businesses who need help and re-assurance. We know these plans won’t solve things on their own. But we hope taking more action on several fronts means local communities will feel more secure.”

Andrew also used the announcement to push responsibility upwards. He said a small town council cannot fix the problem on its own, and called on the police and Cornwall Council to follow the evidence and put resources into smaller seaside communities under pressure, not only the larger towns.

What the marshals actually do

St Ives BID Manager Sarah Hooper said the marshals earn their place once the season gets busy.

“Street Marshals provide an invaluable service to retailers and businesses during the busy summer months, helping to deter shoplifting, support businesses affected by people leaving without paying, and assist in responding to incidents of anti-social behaviour, including alcohol-related disorder,” she said.

Sarah said the marshals give the town an extra visible presence as visitor numbers climb, working alongside the police, local authorities and businesses to keep St Ives safe and welcoming for everyone.

The plan now rests partly on the larger agencies the council says it cannot manage without.