New 'hotspot' police scheme results in 62 arrests

Hotspot areas included Barnstaple, Exeter, Newquay, Plymouth, Torquay and Truro

A new police scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) has resulted in 62 arrests, police said.

Devon and Cornwall Police said it had conducted more than 2,000 hours of extra patrols across the region as part of the "hotspot policing initiative" which launched in May.

Hotspot areas included Barnstaple, Exeter, Newquay, Plymouth, Torquay and Truro.

Ch Insp Tim Evans said officers were "deterring and disrupting crime" and "actively engaging with the public".

'High visibility patrols'

He said: "Hotspot policing is a proven methodology and the results across Devon and Cornwall so far confirm that high visibility patrols are effective.

"We have received fantastic feedback so far with residents happy to see more police on the streets."

The force said the scheme also resulted in 70 stop searches leading to nine offensive weapons seized, more than 30 drug seizures, more than 35 instances of stolen goods being recovered and more than 30 seizures of alcohol.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez secured £1m of Home Office funding to deliver the additional police and street marshal patrols.

'Multi-agency approach'

Newquay will get an uplift in patrols during the summer with funding available for daily patrols.

Funding has also been made available for hotspot police patrols in Exmouth, Newton Abbot, Penzance and Paignton.

The force said the patrols represented a multi-agency approach to improving community safety with street marshals working alongside the police.

Ms Hernandez said: “I am pleased to see that the targeted approach of hotspot policing is having a real impact on ASB and serious violence already.

"While it’s clear these patrols are disrupting crime, it’s important not to overlook the wider impact of officers spending time on foot where the public want to see them.

“The addition of street marshals will only strengthen the work already underway to make our communities safer."