Find out about our Operation Town Centres which will help ensure all Torbay towns are safe and welcoming
We want to achieve high-quality, welcoming, and vibrant town centres where all communities can feel safe and where businesses can thrive.
Operation Town Centres ensures all Torbay towns are safe and welcoming. Our investment has provided additional enforcement officers delivering high-visibility patrols and support for vulnerable people to help address the root causes behind some of the anti-social behaviour (ASB).
This is being done through collaboration between ourselves, the police and a wide range of other partners, using a variety of approaches to support this work (read more about this below).
This video by Devon and Cornwall Police highlights the importance of partnership working.
Torbay has two Public Space Protection Orders specifically for our town centres.
Community Protection Warning (CPW): This is a written warning which must be issued before a Community Protection Notice. It is a request to stop doing something.
Community Protection Notice (CPN): This is a formal notice that addresses ongoing problems of nuisance which are having a negative effect on a community’s quality of life. The notice will direct an individual, organisation or business to stop behaving in certain ways, or to take certain action to resolve an issue. They can be issued if they don’t comply with a CPW. Breach of a CPN is a criminal offence and can be prosecuted in court.
Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO): CBOs can only be issued following a conviction for a criminal offence in court. A CBO is an order made by the court that can last indefinitely and restricts someone from behaving in certain ways or being in a certain area. They typically last for around three years. Breach of a CBO can result in a prison sentence of up to five years.
Uniformed town centre officers and street marshals assist in tackling ASB and improving community safety. On a day-to-day basis they challenge ASB, liaise with local businesses, assist members of the public and signpost vulnerable people towards help, amongst many other things.
They are routinely on patrol in Torquay and Paignton. Speak to them if you’re concerned about anything or just wish to find out more about their role.
Watch this Devon and Cornwall Police video to find out more about hotspot policing, which sees town centre officers and street marshals working alongside police officers to keep our streets safe.
UKPAC is an online portal and app. It helps traders report crimes like shoplifting and ASB quickly and easily.
Businesses in Torbay can sign up for a free limited subscription to help them combat crime.
It's funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner to help retailers share intelligence. This can help them build cases for prosecutions.
Retailers can also get discounted crime prevention services.
Read more about UKPAC and sign up today
These are radio systems which improve communication and help to address any shoplifting or ASB experienced by traders.
The radio system is linked to our CCTV control room which is in turn linked to the police.
StoreNet operates during the day while NiteNet is the system for the evening and night-time economy.
Businesses and organisations can also sign up to the Safety of Women at Night Charter to show how they’re making their premises safer and more welcoming for women and girls.
Stagecoach runs a night bus on the number 12 route (Torquay to Brixham and vice versa) every Saturday until the end of March.
Get timetables, routes and fares for the new Torbay night bus services
Taxi marshals are on patrol between the hours of 10pm and 4am on Friday and Saturday nights in Torquay and Paignton.
Two can be found on Victoria Parade Rank and two can be found the Strand / Pavilion / Vaughan Parade areas, near taxi ranks and the night bus shelters.
Another two-person team operates near Paignton Railway station.
The marshals will be in place until at least the end of May 2027.
Torbay Street Pastors
These volunteers patrol Torquay Harbourside into the early hours on Saturday nights, doing everything from calling for medical assistance, handing out bottles of water and charging phones.