To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2025.

The minutes of the meeting that took place on 25 July 2025 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

Members will be asked to make any declaration of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

To receive questions from (and provide answers to) members of the public that are relevant to the panel’s functions.

Questions should be no longer than 100 words and sent to Democratic Support, Plymouth City Council, Floor 3, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ or democratic.support@plymouth.gov.uk

Questions must be received at least 5 complete working days before the meeting.

There were no public questions.

Alison Hernandez (Police and Crime Commissioner) presented the report to the Panel and highlighted the following key points:  

a) Thanked the Panel for maintaining oversight of the contact function within Devon and Cornwall Police, noting that performance had improved significantly and that continued scrutiny was essential to sustain progress; 

b) Acknowledged the leadership of Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Leaper, senior police staff Lucy Bailey, and Head of Public Contact Dan Thurood, crediting their efforts and investment for the improvements achieved; 

c) Devon and Cornwall Police had moved from 35th to 19th place nationally in the Government’s 999 call handling league table. The ranking was based on standardised measurements from the moment a caller dialled 999, rather than when the call was received by the force. Performance fluctuated monthly, with the force occasionally ranking as high as first or third; 

d) The 101 non-emergency line had seen an 11.8% increase in call volume compared to the previous year. The abandonment rate had dropped from 60% to approximately 11%. The Commissioner had set a target of 5% in line with His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary";

e) A call-back function was introduced in September 2023, allowing callers to receive a return call during busy periods. This had proven successful in maintaining public confidence and reducing wait times; 

f) A pilot for direct video contact with domestic abuse victims was underway, aiming to provide immediate reassurance and support; 

g) The Commissioner stated that the target for answering 101 calls was 10 minutes, which was being approached with consistency. Although the force had previously aimed for five minutes, the Commissioner considered this overly ambitious and reaffirmed her accountability target of 90% of calls answered within 10 minutes. 

h) Police inquiry offices reopened over the past three years had been well received by communities. Further reopenings were under consideration, including a confirmed office in Exmouth and a potential site in Launceston; 

In response to questions raised it was reported that: 

i) Panel members commended the improvements and suggested that a formal message of congratulations be sent to the contact services team. It was noted that maintaining standards would be essential going forward; 

j) Concerns were raised about future capacity, referencing Heinrich’s safety triangle and the potential for system overload due to increased public confidence and reporting. The Commissioner responded that while the police could be overwhelmed if all incidents were reported, systems such as UK Partners Against Crime (UK PAC) helped filter and manage intelligence effectively. The Commissioner encouraged wider adoption of UK PAC, including by businesses and community groups; 

k) The Panel discussed the need for improved public communications to counter alarm over rising crime rates, which were partly due to increased reporting and enforcement. It was suggested that the Commissioner’s office develop a communications strategy to provide context and reassurance to the public; 

l) The feasibility of the force’s internal target of 75% of 101 calls answered within five minutes was questioned. The Commissioner reiterated her focus on the 90% within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Alison Hernandez (Police and Crime Commissioner), presented the report to the Panel and highlighted the following key points: 

a) The Commissioner provided an overview of the police estate, noting that policing received no capital funding from central government. All capital investment was therefore funded through revenue or borrowing. The estate comprisedof 146 buildings valued at approximately £178 million, including police stations (some with front desks and custody suites), offices, and covert locations; 

b) The Commissioner highlighted that His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services had recently published a report emphasising the lack of capital funding and the challenges this posed to meeting government ambitions for policing infrastructure; 

c) The Commissioner confirmed that there were 26 public inquiry facilities, with plans to increase this to 27; 

In response to questions raised it was reported that:  

d) The condition of the Charles Cross police station and custody suite in Plymouth. The Commissioner responded that while the building was functional and fit for purpose, investment was planned for the custody suite, which would require temporary closure. She acknowledged the building’s age but noted that other sites, such as Newquay and Torquay, were in a worse condition; 

e) The Commissioner expressed openness to exploring joint ventures or alternative funding models, such as One Public Estate, but reiterated that significant investment was not currently feasible without external support; 

f) The Panel discussed the importance of maintaining police visibility in city centres and the challenges posed by relocating stations to out-of-town sites; 

g) It was noted that Plymouth’s summer tourism placed additional pressure on police estates, particularly during peak periods; 

h) The Panel raised the omission of reference to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service’s estate consultation and Homes England’s master planning work with Plymouth City Council. The Commissioner confirmed that her office was engaged with the One Public Estate programme in Devon and had ongoing discussions with other public sector partners, including the NHS. She acknowledged the need for clearer integration of these initiatives in future reports; 

j) The Commissioner confirmed that a £26 million capital programme was in place, funded through policing budgets and borrowing. Maintenance was included within this programme and detailed in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy presented at the February budget meeting; 

k) The Commissioner stated that she hoped future national policing reforms would include capital funding, though no commitments had yet been made; 

l) The Panel discussed the temporary police station in North Devon, which had received positive feedback from the community. The Commissioner welcomed the suggestion of exploring a more permanent solution and expressed interest in further discussions; 

m) Concerns were raised about staffing shortages in custody suites, which sometimes led to closures despite building compliance. The Commissioner confirmed that a report on custody operating models and costs was due in late 2025 and would include staffing and welfare issues. She noted that Devon and Cornwall Police operated six custody suites due to geographic challenges and that staffing, healthcare provision, legal aid, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Alison Hernandez (Police and Crime Commissioner) presented the report to the Panel and highlighted the following key points:  

a) The Commissioner introduced the performance report with the focus of this report in relation to crime trends and thematic issues arising from the Police and Crime Plan 2025–2029; 

b) There was an overall increase in crime across Devon and Cornwall, particularly in violence against the person (rising from 26.4 to 28.7 per 1,000 people) and theft offences, largely driven by shoplifting. The Commissioner emphasised the importance of effective Community Safety Partnerships and offered support where local authority engagement was lacking; 

c) A disruption workshop on violence against women and girls had been held at Exeter Racecourse, bringing together partners to generate innovative ideas focused on disrupting perpetrators rather than placing further responsibility on victims. While some promising ideas emerged, the Commissioner acknowledged that more impactful solutions were still required. A follow-up plan was being developed by the Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), with a view to involving voluntary sector partners and funders; 

d) The Commissioner welcomed an increase in recorded drug offences, interpreting this as a positive indicator of proactive police activity, particularly through Operation Scorpion; 

e) Antisocial behaviour (ASB) remained a concern. Although Devon and Cornwall recorded lower ASB rates than the national average, the Commissioner noted that the data only reflected police-handled incidents and did not capture the full extent of ASB experienced by communities. She highlighted the lack of a clear reporting pathway and the need for improved coordination; 

f) The Commissioner expressed concern over the repeat victimisation rate, which had risen to approximately 46.9%. She clarified that this figure included businesses, particularly large retailers repeatedly targeted by shoplifters. A breakdown of this data was being prepared for the next report; 

g) Panel members requested that Most Similar Force (MSF) comparisons be included alongside national averages in future reports. The Commissioner agreed and explained that improved crime recording practices had contributed to the rise in recorded crime. She also noted that Devon and Cornwall often experienced delayed crime trends compared to national patterns; 

h) The Commissioner identified domestic abuse as the most concerning crime trend, stating that the long-term increase could no longer be attributed solely to improved reporting confidence. She reiterated the need for disruption-focused strategies; 

i) The Commissioner confirmed that a thematic report on ASB would be brought to a future meeting. She also clarified that drug rehabilitation services were commissioned by local authorities through public health and that current referral systems lacked the prioritisation seen in previous years. The OPCC was considering whether to withdraw top-up funding and commission services directly; 

j) The Panel discussed the importance of publishing ASB data to encourage reporting and improve public understanding. The Commissioner advised that Community Safety Partnerships were best placed to provide a comprehensive view by combining police and council data; 

k) Concerns were raised about antisocial vehicle use and the short-term  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

Alison Hernandez (Police and Crime Commissioner) presented the item to the Panel and highlighted the following key points:  

a) The Commissioner highlighted the Safer Streets Summer Focus initiative, noting that although it did not come with funding, it had provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the work being done by Devon and Cornwall Police to keep communities safe over the summer period. The process of reporting to government, while bureaucratic, had helped increase visibility of local policing efforts; 

b) The Panel noted the positive development that Devon and Cornwall Police had been removed from His Majesty’s Inspectorate’s ‘engaged’ status. The Commissioner also confirmed that the Chief Constable had agreed to extend his tenure by an additional year, providing welcome stability to the force; 

c) The Commissioner praised the Councillor Advocate Scheme, acknowledging previous communication issues but emphasising its growing value. Seminars and shared good practice had proven beneficial, and scrutiny at the Commissioner’s Accountability Board had identified inconsistencies in police support for councillors across the region. Improvements were expected following this review; 

d) The Panel raised concerns about the rigidity of the Home Office formula used to determine street marshal deployment. It was suggested that flexibility should be introduced to allow marshals to operate in potential hotspots where data was lacking. The Commissioner clarified that her office only part-funded street marshals, with local authorities funding the majority. The hotspot policing formula required presence for 15 minutes twice daily, leaving scope for broader use by local authorities. Devon and Cornwall were recognised as exemplars in delivering the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme, and the Commissioner was working on a film to showcase the range of accredited personnel; 

e) In response to questions about the redeployment of officers to frontline roles, the Commissioner assured the Panel that strategic risk assessments were being undertaken. The Force Management Statement, required annually by His Majesty’s Inspectorate, evaluated departmental demand, resource allocation, and performance. These assessments informed the strategic risk register and guided decisions on resource reallocation. An example was provided regarding firearms licensing, where the Chief Constable was considering the risk of removing officers from that department; 

f) The Panel discussed the Commissioner’s Accountability Board and proposed that independent members of the Panel attend to enhance feedback and understanding. The Commissioner explained that attendance required vetting and that discussions were not suitable for the public domain. She noted that improvements had been made to the assurance statements, including more detailed explanations of her assessments; 

g) The Commissioner confirmed that Devon and Cornwall managed approximately 27,000 firearms licences, following the separation from Dorset. Although recent fee increases had been implemented, they only covered 43% of departmental costs. The Commissioner stated that national discussions were ongoing regarding further fee adjustments, and the government appeared open to change. The Panel requested to be kept informed and supported the idea of writing to MPs to advocate for full cost recovery. The Commissioner offered to draft a letter with relevant facts and figures for Panel members to use  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

Frances Hughes (Monitoring Officer, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner) presented the report to the Panel and highlighted the following key points:

a)    There had been a drafting error in the report, noting that the total number of complaints had been incorrectly calculated due to the removal of a line referencing figures from the previous panel. It was clarified that the correct total reflected the two complaints previously reported;

b)    There had been 15 complaints received since the last panel meeting. Of those, 14 related to a single incident concerning comments made by the Commissioner about on-going investigations in Cornwall. The remaining complaint pertained to an interview the Commissioner gave regarding cannabis;

c)    Inquiries into both matters had resulted in drafted responses, which had been signed off by the Chair. Those responses had been circulated to Panel members prior to the meeting and there were no further actions required on either complaint.

The Panel agreed to note the report.

The panel agreed to add an additional action which was:

a)    To undertake a tour of the Middlemoor facility, including the custody suite ahead of upcoming decisions on investment.

The Panel agreed to note the action log.

Members of the Panel added the following to the work programme:

1.      Community cohesion and civil unrest in the November agenda, reflecting concerns raised by members and the public. The item would look to provide public reassurance given current events. There were emerging issues across the region, including tensions involving both far-left and far-right groups, disputes over flags, and the distinction between nationalism and patriotism. Hate crime was no longer included in the Commissioners Police and Crime Plan but it was important to understand the Commissioners priorities and her approach to the current and growing community cohesion and civil unrest. The item was not only operational but strategic for the police, and it was important for communities feeling threatened or vulnerable to understand that the Panel was taking these concerns seriously. 

The Panel agreed to note the work programme.