To receive an update on local policing matters in Torbay.

(Note: Superintendent Neil Ralph, South Devon Commander, Devon and Cornwall Police will be present for this item.)

Chief Superintendent Neil Ralph, South Devon Basic Command Unit Commander from Devon and Cornwall Police provided an overview of staffing levels across Torbay and gave reassurance that the recent changes were expected to be in place for at least the next two years to provide continuity, particularly at senior and middle management levels.  He also advised that the Police were finalising budgets to upgrade the Police estate across South Devon and outlined the latest crime figures as set out in the submitted representation and responded to questions in relation to:

·                     If the people who were recorded under the mental health statistics were also involved in drugs, alcohol and/or domestic violence.

·                     It there was evidence of an increase in anti-social behaviour events.

·                     How incidents involving children were managed across agencies, including the Police.

·                     What the statistics were in respect of reoffending and the work to support individuals.

·                     What acts were classed as stalking and harassment.

·                     How many times the armed response unit was deployed in Torbay.

·                     What the figures were for Torbay for fraud.

·                     How the Police deal with people detained because of mental health issues.

·                     How staffing levels compared now to previous years, particularly uniformed officers and how many posts were interim.

·                     The reasons behind the increase in petty shoplifting.

·                     Response times for dealing with incidents and how this was monitored.

·                     How could individual Councillors engage more effectively with their neighbourhood Police teams as there was no longer a Police presence at some of the Community Partnership meetings.

·                     What was being done to support people living in isolated villages.

·                     How the child centred and trauma informed Policing approaches worked.

·                     More crimes were being picked up due to improved reporting and understanding, was the increase in rape a follow on from stalking or harassment.

Members noted that comparison data had been provided for the last two years due to 2020 being impacted by Covid-19 and various lockdowns.

Resolved (unanimously):

1.         that the Democratic Services Team Leader be requested to add the following key line of enquiry to the next Board meeting considering mental health and wellbeing:

The Police have advised that they are no longer able to use the Haytor Unit at Torbay Hospital as a ‘place of safety’ and are having to take people detained with mental health issues to Exeter or Plymouth.  What is being done to ensure that there is a suitable ‘place of safety’ within Torbay for the Police to take people detailed with mental health issues?;

2.         that the Democratic Services Team Leader be requested to write to all Councillors on behalf of the Board encouraging them to sign up to the Police Advocacy Scheme and highlighting the local Policing area on the Devon and Cornwall Police website;

3.         that the South Devon Basic Command Unit Commander be requested to provide the Democratic Services Team Leader with statistics on fraud in Torbay to be circulated to all Councillors; and

4.         that the South Devon Basic Command Unit Commander be requested to make better use of social media across the whole of Torbay to raise awareness of the Police work within the local neighbourhoods.