High Visibility Patrols Launched Across Four Cornwall Towns to Combat Crime

Photo: Joint patrols between street marshals and police aim to tackle antisocial behaviour and serious violence.

In a new effort to tackle antisocial behaviour and serious violence, high visibility street marshal patrols have been launched across four key locations in Cornwall: St Austell, Penzance, Newquay, and Truro. This move, aimed at bolstering community safety, is part of a broader policing strategy targeting crime hotspots throughout the region.

Enhanced Safety Presence in Town Centres

The introduction of these patrols has been coordinated through a multi-agency partnership involving local neighbourhood policing teams, Business Improvement District (BID) groups, local councils, street marshals, and Safer Cornwall. The patrols are designed to provide a visible presence, deterring unwanted activity and offering reassurance to both residents and businesses.

Cllr Carol Mould, Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, highlighted the importance of this expansion: “Our street marshals play an important role when it comes to tackling antisocial behaviour and violence on our streets, so it’s great news that we’ve been able to expand the service to offer hotspot patrols in those four key areas of St Austell, Penzance, Newquay, and Truro.”

Photo: The Truro Rangers will be working closely with the neighbourhood policing team.

Success in Truro: A Model for Other Towns

Truro has already seen tangible results since the hotspot patrols began in May. The city has benefited from additional police and street marshal patrols, funded through this initiative. To date, over 300 hours of police patrols in Truro have led to responses at over 90 incidents of antisocial behaviour, resulting in 17 arrests. The impact on community safety is clear, with ongoing collaboration between the police, Truro Rangers, and local businesses further strengthening efforts.

Penzance and Newquay Follow Suit

Following in Truro’s footsteps, Penzance and Newquay have launched similar patrols. In Penzance, street marshals began patrolling last month, working closely with the neighbourhood policing team, which has also received additional funding for police patrols over the summer. The combined efforts are aimed at keeping the town safe for both residents and tourists.

In Newquay, the collaboration between street marshals and the neighbourhood police team has been well received by the community. Sergeant Ian Weager, Neighbourhood Team Leader, stated that the street marshals will be working alongside his team, sharing information and gathering intelligence to ensure a unified approach to community safety.

Photo: Members of Penzance Council, including Town Mayor Cllr Stephen Reynolds, the neighbourhood policing team, Penzance Business Improvement District (BID) and the street marshal team came together for a briefing before the start of the patrols.

Future Plans and Additional Funding

The funding for these patrols is part of a larger £1 million investment secured by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez from the Home Office. This funding is distributed across multiple locations in 13 towns and cities, with a further £200,000 allocated to maximise the number of partner patrols. Camborne is set to be the next town to benefit from street marshal patrols in the coming weeks.

The introduction of these patrols marks a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of Cornwall’s communities, with early results indicating a positive impact. As the patrols continue, the collaborative efforts of local authorities, police, and community partners are expected to further strengthen the fabric of these towns.

Photo: The street marshals will be engaging with both local residents and businesses while out on patrol.