Delivering police services over all areas
I WRITE in response to Trevor Wilson’s letter, ‘Paying for benefits that I will not use’, published on March 30.
The leaflet which Trevor refers to has been distributed alongside council tax bills as part of an exercise in what I regard as vital transparency in how our money is spent.
He is correct in saying that the contribution has increased this financial year on last, but I would challenge his assertion that he and other North Devon residents will not benefit from the additional revenues generated.
I have argued long and hard for central Government to increase the amount that it gives to Devon and Cornwall Police and am pleased that the officer uplift, combined with the uplift already funded by our local taxpayers, will enable record officer numbers in the force area this year.
Trevor can rest assured that the basic command unit that serves his area has more officers than it did when I was elected in 2016, and still more coming its way.
Additional income over recent years has enabled the force to set up a Rural Crime Unit to specialise in prevention of the types of crime that afflict such areas, partner with other agencies to tackle the dangerous driving that claims too many lives on our rural roads and encourage more reporting of domestic and sexual violence, crimes that are all too often kept behind closed doors.
Last year I had the privilege of opening a new police station in Barnstaple, complete with custody unit, representing an investment in North Devon of more than £2 million. We are also piloting new ways of working and collaboration across the force area, and this month a pilot scheme will see the first maritime Police Community Support Officer established in Ilfracombe.
I understand that the cost of living is rising but know that many residents of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly feel that our safety and security must come first. I will continue to scrutinise the force’s performance and a fundamental part of this job is to ensure that services are delivered proportionately across the force area.
Of course we could do more if we had more, and I will continue to lobby central Government to recognise the additional strain that our rurality, combined with more domestic visitors than any other force area, has on our local population. If Trevor or anyone else would like to find out more about our spending plans, there is plenty more information available on my office’s website.
Alison Hernandez Police and Crime Commissioner Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly