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 nature of hotspot policing interventions. The Commissioner clarified that hotspot policing was intended to be a year-long initiative and was now in its second year. She acknowledged the need for sustained interventions and shared updates on the development of a noise camera, which had reached a near-purchasable stage and could be a valuable tool for addressing vehicle-related ASB; 

l) The Commissioner outlined her intention to explore early intervention strategies for young people involved in antisocial driving, including education and support through the youth justice system; 

In response to questions raised it was reported that: 

m) The challenge of addressing group behaviours, such as large groups of motorcyclists causing disruption, and the need to consider collective impact rather than individual offences; 

n) The Commissioner confirmed that her office was working to elevate and coordinate men’s groups (e.g. Band of Brothers, Man Down) to support cultural change and challenge misogynistic attitudes, particularly among young people. She emphasised the importance of positive male role models in schools; 

o) The Panel raised concerns about the rise in illegal tobacco and vape sales, particularly in Torbay. The Commissioner noted that this issue was being addressed through a national operation involving the National Crime Agency and Trading Standards. She encouraged local monitoring through Community Safety Partnerships; 

p) The Commissioner confirmed that rural crime and theft, including tool and equipment theft from tradespeople, would be addressed in future thematic reports. She was committed to seeking disaggregated rural data for inclusion in those reports; 

q) A 1% decrease in public confidence in policing was noted. The Commissioner stated that while the drop was not alarming, it was important to maintain high confidence levels. She attributed confidence issues to poor victim experiences and emphasised the Chief Constable’s focus on frontline visibility, improved investigations, and the uplift in Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) as key strategies; 

r) The Commissioner acknowledged that national policing issues, particularly those involving the Metropolitan Police, could negatively affect local perceptions. However, she praised the strong partnership working in Devon and Cornwall, particularly in response to recent civil disorder in Plymouth. 

Actions: 

1.    Commissioner to include MSF comparisons in future performance reports. 

2.    Commissioner to explore inclusion of rural crime statistics in thematic reports. 

3.    Commissioner to share updates on the deployment and cost of the noise camera. 

4.    Commissioner to consider commissioning drug rehabilitation services directly if current arrangements remained unclear. 

5.    That the OPCC ensure future reports clearly distinguish between types of repeat victimisation. 

6.    That the Commissioner continue to support and expand partnership work on antisocial behaviour, including long-term hotspot policing and youth interventions. 

7.    That the Commissioner explore further opportunities to improve public confidence through visibility, victim support, and community engagement.