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; 

h) The Panel welcomed Plymouth’s participation in the Councillor Advocate Scheme and raised questions about support for victims of sexual violence. The Commissioner confirmed that a five-year contract was being finalised to stabilise funding for adult and child sexual violence services. Contributions were being made by NHS England and the Integrated Care Board, but voluntary sector organisations remained financially vulnerable. The Commissioner emphasised the importance of disruption strategies and expressed concern about the limited support available for children, noting that the only Sexual Assault Referral Centre for children was located in Exeter. The new contract aimed to improve support, but further work was required; 

i) The Commissioner confirmed that a violence profile report would be presented at the next Panel meeting, which would include updates on sexual violence support services. 

Actions: 

1.    Commissioner’s office to draft a letter for Panel members to send to MPs advocating for full cost recovery of firearms licensing. 

2.    That the Panel be kept informed of progress on firearms licensing fee reform and support efforts to achieve full cost recovery. 

3.    That the Panel receive regular updates on the development and implementation of sexual violence support services, particularly for children.