Street Focus: Torquay
What is Street Focus: Torquay?
Castle Circus residents have long been affected by antisocial behaviour (ASB) and serious violence, with residents and traders feeling unsafe, the area looking rundown, many vacant shop premises and not able to attract new businesses.
Street Focus: Torquay was launched after Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez secured £1 million from the Home Office to fund hotspot policing in multiple locations across Devon and Cornwall, including Castle Circus in Torquay. The funding sees additional police and uniformed community patrols in the town centre. The patrols provide a reassuring presence to help people feel safe while also proactively disrupting crime and acting as a deterrent.
This multi-agency approach is a collective vision for a safer town centre where the community can thrive with OPCC working in partnership with Devon & Cornwall Police, Torbay Council and SWISCo.
The project provides an opportunity to try and test new things to improve the environment, increase public confidence, reduce ASB and local crime rates and aims to bring real, long-term change to the area.
Business Crime Reduction Solution coming to Torquay this year
UK Partners Against Crime (UK PAC) is a community of likeminded businesses working together to reduce retail crime.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) will be piloting the UK PAC Business Crime Reduction Solution in Torbay. One year’s free subscription is offered to all businesses in Torbay from April 2025 to April 2026 funded by the OPCC. The cost after year one is a £20/month membership fee.
Benefits of signing up:
Quick and easy to report crime via an online platform.
Gain the advantages of working at scale – more intelligence and crime data to pursue offenders.
Targeting of prolific and repeat offenders.
Police are supported to collate quality evidence, leading to a higher rate of successful prosecutions.
Access to UK PAC Partners and their services at a discounted rate.
Businesses are stronger together. By working in partnership, we can fight back against retail crime.
We will be running two informative sessions on Monday 14th April at the Banking Hall at Torquay Town Hall. You are welcome to attend at either 1:30pm to 3:30pm, or 4:30pm to 6:30pm. Both sessions will include a demo of the platform by the UK PAC team, opportunity to ask any questions and sign up if you wish.
Please arrive promptly at the start time so you don’t miss any key information. Businesses of all types in Torbay are welcome. This pilot forms part of the Street Focus: Torquay project which is a multi-agency approach to tackling antisocial behaviour (ASB) and improving community safety.
If you are interested in attending one of the events, please complete the short registration form so that we have an idea of numbers of attendees: UKPAC Engagement Event Registration
Our progress so far
Who’s who
Street Focus: Torquay is a multi-agency approach to tackling ASB and improving community safety.
Meet the team working hard to create long-lasting change.
Hotspot policing
Torquay has received funding for both police and street marshal patrols as part of a hotspot policing initiative. This will enable an increased uniformed presence in the town centre. Joint working between the police and street marshals will deliver a united front against antisocial behaviour and serious violence.
Tackling antisocial behaviour
We are working with Torbay Council to reduce antisocial behaviour (ASB).
Investment will provide additional enforcement officers and support and welfare staff to address the root cause.
Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) give police and other authorised officers the power to tackle ASB through dispersal notices and directions to remove alcohol.
Torquay PSPO data
Community engagement
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner community engagement vehicle makes regular appearances outside the town hall. It is a hub for members of the public to give their thoughts on the issues in the town and receive advice.
Mobile police station
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:
Wednesday 26th March, 10am - 1pm: outside Primark, Union Street
Friday 28th March, 6pm - 8pm: near to Green Ginger, The Strand
Tuesday 1st April, 3pm - 5pm: Castle Circus
Friday 4th April, 3pm - 5pm, outside Primark, Union Street
Wednesday 16th April, 10am - 1pm, The Strand
Tuesday 22nd April, 11am - 2pm, outside Primark, Union Street
Tuesday 29th April, 11am to 1pm, Castle Circus
Tuesday 6th May, 10am to 1pm, The Strand
Help us to make Torquay safer
We want to hear from you about issues in your area as we work to improve safety in Torquay town centre and inspire pride in our town.
