Commissioner provides assurance over crime concerns raised in Ilfracombe

Concerns raised by Ilfracombe Town Council about rising crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB) have been directly responded to by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez. 

In a letter sent to the Commissioner, councillors described a rise in shoplifting, street violence and intimidation in the popular seaside time and called for more policing resources. Reassurance has been provided by the Commissioner about how those concerns are being tackled. She has urged people to report any incidents of crime and ASB to the police. 

Below is the Commissioner’s letter in full to Ilfracombe Town Council: 

Laura Donovan  

Proper Officer  

Ilfracombe Town Council  

15 May 2026 

Dear Laura,  

Thank you very much for your letter dated 24 April 2026. I am sorry to read about the issues you have highlighted. You are right to say that everyone should be able to go about their lives without the threat of violence and theft.  

As the Police and Crime Commissioner I set the priorities for the police and hold the Chief Constable to account, but I do not make operational decisions. One of my key responsibilities is to be the voice of the people in policing, and I will be raising your concerns with the Chief Constable and my office has already liaised with the local police inspector. In particular, I will be reiterating the importance of communication between the neighbourhood policing team and the street marshals who operate in the town. As you know, information sharing and partnership working are vital.  

Before turning to the other actions that can be taken, I would like to acknowledge the work your Council has been doing to try to improve public safety. Your monthly One Ilfracombe Town Team meeting with partners including the police, your social media campaign encouraging people to report crime, and the One Ilfracombe youth club are all initiatives which should be highly commended.  

I would now like to set out some of the ways my Office has already been working alongside you and our other partners to tackle these issues and suggest some next steps.  

Street marshals  

I have recently announced an extension to the funding I contribute towards the street marshals which are currently in Ilfracombe for two days a week. I know the Town Council has also been investing in this service. Since receiving your letter my Office has spoken to the company which provides this service and suggested that further conversations are held to see if this service can be extended.  

Shoplifting reporting tool 

I am pleased to say that seven businesses in Ilfracombe have so far signed up to UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC). This follows an information event held by UKPAC in Ilfracombe on 20 January which was attended by around 20 businesses. This initiative is a game changer. It dramatically reduces the time it takes for businesses to report shoplifting and it saves police time too. The results in South Devon have been remarkable. The funding provided by my Office allows UKPAC to offer the first year of membership free of charge. I would very much appreciate any efforts you can make to encourage more businesses to sign-up. 

CCTV 

Last year towns and villages across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly were invited to apply for a share of a £125,000 fund for new CCTV provided by my Office. Whilst I did not receive an application for Ilfracombe on this I understand the District Council is looking at whether CCTV in the town can be extended. While I may not be able to support this financially, I would strongly encourage any move to increase the CCTV cover in the town.  

Youth Services  

I have recently invested in the expansion of the “Change our Path” service which provides a programme of activities for vulnerable young people aged 11-18 in Ilfracombe who are at risk of criminal exploitation, facing school exclusion, struggling with mental health, experiencing trauma or dealing with bereavement. I also fund an antisocial behaviour outreach programme across Devon and Cornwall which works to divert young people from problematic behaviour.  

Parenting support  

An impactful initiative that has been helping Devon parents and carers discuss difficult topics with children such as pornography, drugs and alcohol, relationships and mental health is now available for free online. My office has provided £100,000 to help expand successful programme Let’s Talk which has included launching a website so that everyone, regardless of where they live, can access its trusted guidance. I would recommend that the Town Council asks the local Community Safety Partnership to increase promotion of this service in Ilfracombe.  

Councillor Advocate Scheme  

There is currently one councillor from Ilfracombe signed up to the Councillor Advocate Scheme run by my office and I would urge others to consider joining. The scheme aims to improve communication between local councillors, the police, and the Police and Crime Commissioner, with quarterly events where briefings are given and there is an opportunity to raise questions and discuss policing issues. In December, I hosted a seminar for members which looked at examples of best practice tackling drug and alcohol misuse and harm across Devon and Cornwall.  

I conclude this reply to your letter by again expressing my concern about the issues being raised and my hope that the ideas mentioned above will be helpful. I would also like to reiterate my thank you for the work you are doing to encourage more people to report crimes to the police. In February 2024 the Police Enquiry Office in Ilfracombe was re-opened with funding I provided. This provides a way for people to report crimes and raise concerns with the police, alongside the option of using the 101 service, where call answering times have improved significantly in recent months. As you know reporting crime is vitally important because this information is used by the police to assist with decisions about where officers and staff are based.  

Yours sincerely, 

Alison Hernandez