Exeter set to benefit from funds to tackle antisocial behaviour

Published: 2 July 2020

Efforts to tackle anti-social behaviour in Exeter have been given a boost thanks to funding being made available from the Police Crime Commissioner.

Exeter Quay and Exeter Cathedral are two of 20 public spaces across Devon and Cornwall that are set to benefit from the £500k Fighting Fund.

Alison Hernandez has made the money available to tackle antisocial across the two counties ahead of Saturday’s easing of coronavirus restrictions and a summer surge in visitors.

The funding could be spent on street marshals, CCTV, assisting volunteer schemes like Street Pastors and the provision of temporary toilets.

It is not clear yet how Exeter’s money will be spent.

In recent weeks police and communities have had to deal with incidents of antisocial behaviour as restrictions on people’s movement have eased. People living near some of the public spaces identified for the funding have complained of littering and excessive drinking.

The new measures will help complement a detailed summer policing plan that has enabled Devon and Cornwall Police to place extra resources at hotspots like Orcombe Point in Exmouth.

The 20 locations to benefit from the funding have been selected using crime data by Devon and Cornwall Police because communities there are experiencing high levels of alcohol-related disorder.

They are: Orcombe Point (Exmouth), Exeter Quay, Exeter Cathedral, Bideford Quay, Woolacombe Beach, Croyde Bay, Torquay seafront, Paignton seafront, Newton Abbot, Brixham Harbour, Newquay Towan Beach and town centre, Fistral Beach, St Ives Waterfront, Truro centre and Lemon Quay, Perran Sands (Perranporth), Penzance waterfront, Bude seafront and beach, Plymouth Hoe and Plymouth Barbican.

Now the commissioner will be working with local authorities and community safety partnerships to create bespoke solutions for each of the locations.

Exeter Quay, has seen significant problems in recent weeks, with residents reporting heavy drinking and people urinating in public.

Exeter City Council Leader Phil Bialyk welcomed the initiative.

Cllr Bialyk said: “I’m very pleased to be working with Alison and her office on issues we have seen at Exeter Quay and I’m grateful for her quick response.

“There is a lot to be said for people taking personal responsibility when it comes to sporadic outbursts of antisocial behaviour. It has been a national problem and unfortunately Exeter hasn’t been immune.

“Together with the Commissioner I am confident we are doing everything within our control and resources to continue to retain Exeter Quay a stunning location for people to enjoy.”

The Police and Crime Commissioner said that the funding was in addition to the £1.7m invested annually by her in community safety partnerships. These work with local partners to build safer communities.

“We are entering what is traditionally Devon and Cornwall Police’s busiest period, with potentially even more visitors to the Westcountry than in previous years,” she said.

“I welcome the fact that the bars, restaurants and cafes which are an important part of our economy will be able to open this weekend, and we can once again give tourists a warm westcountry welcome.

“But I do want people to behave responsibly and consider the impact of their behaviour on others. This funding represents a significant investment in practical measures that, in partnership with councils and police, will help keep people safe and reduce the impact of the impending changes to coronavirus regulations.”

Alison said she would be keen to hear from residents of other areas where antisocial behaviour had been a problem to discuss potential solutions with them.

Notes to editors:

The funding will be available for identified locations for CSPs for four specific areas of expenditure:

• Deployment of street marshalls in busy public spaces at key hours
• Additional CCTV monitoring hours or deployment of additional mobile CCTV systems
• Provision of temporary toilet facilities
• Help for street pastor schemes or other schemes by volunteers or licencees to help promote safe and responsible drinking

Locations by policing area: