The Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel met on 12 September 2025, and discussed a range of issues including contact services, the estates strategy, performance against the Police and Crime Plan, and complaints against the Police and Crime Commissioner. The panel noted the reports and agreed to add several items to the work programme, including the estates strategy and custody suite developments.

Police and Crime Plan Performance

The Panel reviewed the performance against the Police and Crime Plan 2025-29, which sets out the vision for safe, resilient, and connected communities. The plan focuses on improving policing and crime services, addressing antisocial behaviour, drugs and alcohol, serious violence, and theft.

Key discussion points included:

• Crime Statistics: Total recorded crime in Devon and Cornwall increased by 11.7% in the 12 months to March 2025, with notable rises in violence against the person (9.0%), drug offences (24.7%), and theft offences (15.2%).
• Contact Services: While 999 calls are being answered within the target time, 101 call answering times are still below target, although improvements have been made.
• HMICFRS Judgements: Devon and Cornwall Police were removed from the 'Engage' stage of enhanced monitoring by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) ¹, but improvements are still needed in crime recording.
• Theft: Shoplifting was identified as a particular concern, with a 29.9% increase in reported offences. Initiatives to tackle shoplifting, such as the UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC) ² and Auror, were discussed.
• Community Safety: The panel discussed the importance of visible policing in areas with antisocial behaviour, and the use of Community Protection Notices and Warnings.
• Serious Violence: Alison Hernandez (Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner) highlighted the importance of tackling violence against women and girls, and the need to change male attitudes and behaviours.

Alison Hernandez said that the force was committed to improving performance in all areas, and that she would continue to hold the Chief Constable to account.

Contact Services Update

The Panel received an update on contact services, noting improvements in 999 and 101 call answering times, and a reduction in the abandonment rate for 101 calls. Devon and Cornwall Police have made several changes to improve its service offer to the public, including:

• Switchboard: Implemented in September 2022, switchboard is the first point of contact for 101 callers.
• Callback Function: Introduced in September 2023, callers to 101 are offered a callback if they do not wish to wait on the phone.
• Ringfencing: Ringfencing technology was introduced in November 2024, which automatically allocates 999 and 101 calls according to the number of available Contact Officers.

The report noted that the average wait time for a 101 call was 3 minutes and 34 seconds, which is 32 minutes quicker than the average time taken two years prior.

Alison Hernandez remains committed to opening Public Enquiry Offices (PEOs), and continues to explore opportunities to do so. This year, PEOs have opened in Liskeard, Ivybridge, Tavistock and Camborne, taking total PEOs across the force area to 26.

Estates Strategy

The Panel received a briefing note on the development of a new estates strategy for Devon and Cornwall Police. The Police and Crime Commissioner owns all of the policing estate across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) is responsible for 146 buildings located across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The estates portfolio comprises a wide range of different types of buildings, including:

• The overall headquarters site in Exeter, which includes a police college and accommodation, one of the contact centres, a firing range, dog training facility, sports hall and a wide range of office and meeting facilities.
• Two operational county headquarters, one at Exeter and one at Bodmin which provide overall leadership support, public enquiry offices and a range of specialist policing functions.
• Numerous police stations right across the two counties and islands, 27 of which have public enquiry facilities.

Devon and Cornwall Police currently operates a six-centre custody model plus a small holding facility on the Isles of Scilly. The six custody centres are:

• Exeter Police station, Devon
• Torquay, Devon
• Plymouth (Charles Cross), Devon
• Barnstaple, Devon
• Newquay, Cornwall
• Cambourne, Cornwall

The Commissioner has made £1m available for custody centres during 2025/26, with a further £500k per annum thereafter, just to maintain compliance.

Non-Criminal Complaints Against the Police and Crime Commissioner

The Panel received a report on non-criminal complaints against the Police and Crime Commissioner. Fifteen formal complaints were received against the Commissioner in the last reporting period. Fourteen of the complaints related to comments made by the Commissioner at the last Police and Crime Panel and the remaining complaint relates to a separate matter. All fifteen complaints are currently ongoing and being discussed with the Chair of the Police and Crime Panel, to determine a resolution.