Progress underway to boost community safety in Torquay’s town centre

The Street Focus: Torquay project continues to build on the progress made last year. Led by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), this multi-agency initiative aims to bring real, long-term change to the town centre and enhance community safety.

After feedback from the community about some benches near the Castle Pub being an area of concern and attracting antisocial behaviour (ASB), they have now been removed.

Benches have been removed from Castle Circus.

Investments have been made in street cleaning, improving the appearance of the town centre. SWISCo, Torbay Council’s waste management service, will also be working with the Community Payback scheme. Offenders will work on identified tasks to pay back the community for their crimes. This can include tasks such as litter picking, removing graffiti and grounds maintenance. Together, they will have a greater impact on maintaining clean, safe streets.  

Hotspot policing is helping to tackle ASB and serious violence through targeted foot patrols. Since May, more than 1,200 extra hours of patrols have been carried out by police, town centre officers and street marshals. While on patrol they engage with residents, visit businesses and proactively address ASB. Those patrolling are highly visible in the town centre and have engaged with more than 5,400 members of the public to date. The times and locations of the patrols are data-led, placing officers in the right place at the right time. This has led to attendance at 87 ASB incidents and 21 arrests.

Town centre officers on hotspot patrol.

The mobile police station will be out and about over the coming months. Members of the public are encouraged to visit, providing an opportunity to report crime, receive crime prevention advice, share information and be directed to support services. The van will be stationed at the following dates and locations, subject to operational demand: 

·       Monday 6 January, 2pm – 4pm: near to Green Ginger – The Strand

·       Friday 17 January, 2pm – 4pm: Castle Circus

·       Monday 27 January, 10am – 1pm: outside Primark, Union Street

·       Monday 3 February, 10am – 1pm: near to Green Ginger – The Strand

·       Friday 7 February, 6pm – 8pm: near to Premier Shop on Fleet Walk

·       Thursday 13 February, 2pm – 4pm: Castle Circus

·       Friday 21 February, 12pm – 2:30pm: outside Primark, Union Street

The next generation presented their ideas to address the issues in Torquay’s town centre at South Devon College. The students were set a problem solving challenge for Castle Circus. With just a few weeks to put together their presentations, the students conducted a visit to the area and carried out extensive research, including looking at case studies from as far as Finland and the US.

South Devon Collage students presented their ideas for the Street Focus project to a panel.

There were six presentations, each heard by a panel with representatives from Devon & Cornwall Police, Torbay Council and the OPCC. The presentations did not feature policing as a solution for Torquay. Instead, the students focused on fixing the root cause of some of the issues by providing accommodation, addressing alcohol and drug addiction through support services, revitalising disused shopfronts, and setting up youth clubs. The students were able to field some challenging questions from the panel. Three shortlisted groups will receive certificates and vouchers to spend in local businesses.   

Some innovative tactics to tackle crime and ASB were discovered on a visit to the capital. Members of both the OPCC and Devon & Cornwall Police travelled to London to meet with the Safer Business Network. The business crime reporting system they use was of particular interest and has helped to make a case for a pilot project in Torquay.

Discussions are already underway for some exciting opportunities and further partnership working in 2025.