Marshals become 'eyes and ears' of Cornwall town

St Ives Town Council said the new initiative aims to address the pressures placed on town during the summer season

A pilot scheme has been launched for street marshals to be the "eyes and ears" of a Cornish town over the summer.

St Ives Town Council said the scheme aimed to address the pressures placed on the town with spikes in antisocial behaviour and petty crime during the summer months.

The council, in close partnership with St Ives BID [business improvement district], said it was funding the scheme following the positive impact similar teams had had in Penzance, Truro and Camborne.

Marshals would be employed by "trusted partner" Infinitus Security Ltd, which manage and monitor the CCTV system in the town centre, the council said.

'Multi-agency approach'

The council said the marshals were not a substitute for police, but they would be working very closely alongside them.

St Ives BID manager Sarah Hooper said the multi-agency approach would strengthen intelligence sharing and enable a more "effective response to local issues".

"Street marshals provide a vital, visible presence in the town, offering reassurance to residents, visitors and businesses, while actively helping to reduce antisocial behaviour and crime," she said.

Mayor of St Ives Johnnie Wells said the initiative would help keep the town "safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone".

Insp Dee Evans, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said the new initiative was a "really positive step" for St Ives.

He said: "The introduction of summer street marshals will strengthen our partnership approach to tackling crime and antisocial behaviour, particularly during the busiest months of the year.

"By working closely with the police and local services, the marshals will provide a visible, reassuring presence and support early intervention in areas of concern."