Commissioner's column: A decade of ‘eventful and unforgettable’ memories being your Police and Crime Commissioner

This month marks 10 eventful and unforgettable years since I was elected as your Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Inevitably, it has given me cause to reflect about the changes that have taken place, the difficult - and often very challenging - times I have overseen, and the many great things that have been accomplished.  

One of the things I am most proud of is delivering on the promise to recruit record numbers of police officers to make our streets and communities safer. Numbers are now at a record high of 3,610 within Devon & Cornwall Police which I will do my upmost to maintain until the end of my term.  

I am equally proud of having opened more police enquiry offices since 2016 than any other police force in the country. In the last financial year, three more were opened in Tavistock, Ivybridge and Liskeard bringing the total to 17. This has been possible thanks to us all for paying more in our council tax.  

In 2020, I had the privilege of opening the new £29m Exeter Police Station. The same year also marked the opening of a new £2m police station in Liskeard. More recently, Camborne Police Station and front office has undergone a significant refurbishment of nearly £7.5m refurbishment. It is now much easier for people to speak to officers face-to-face and for victims to get support.  

A controversial decision I still stand behind was opposing the business case to merge Devon & Cornwall Police with Dorset Police in 2018. There was not overwhelming public support for it and my view was the huge disruption it would cause was not worth the relatively minor savings, and it would have led to a further increase in council tax precepts for our residents. My decision was backed by the Police and Crime Panel who scrutinise my decisions. But eight years on, mergers are now back on the table under new policing reforms proposed by the government.  

I hope that any future merger discussions will involve extensive consultation with local residents as it is essential your views are taken into account to secure legitimacy of policing. Throughout the past decade, my office has collated the views of thousands of residents on policing matters in my annual survey and I have listened and acted upon the consistent message to see more visible foot patrols out on our streets.   

My office has funded the expansion of a unique and innovative model of collaboration between police, fire, and health services in the form of Tri-Service Safety Officers (TSSOs). They have combined skills from all services and it is hoped they will be replicated across the country in the future.  

A need to make our roads safer was the inspiration behind launching Vision Zero South West in 2019 which is a partnership that brings together key partners who share the ambitious aim of halving the number of deaths and serious injuries on the region's roads by 2030, with the long-term goal of reducing them to zero. Latest statistics show we are on our way to achieving that.  

Success has also come in the form of an array of awards my office has received, including some for leading the nationally award-winning Prisoners Building Homes (PBH) scheme. It trains prisoners on day release in factories to help build modular homes, leaving them with a job and money. Reducing reoffending is such an important aspect to stopping more people becoming victims, and with earlier and earlier prison releases, which is why it is one of my key priorities.  

Another important part of my role is holding the police to account which includes dealing with allegations of police misconduct at the highest level. No Commissioner wants to have had to deal with the suspension of a Chief Constable and then the Acting Chief Constable. But since December 2024, there has been stability and huge improvements within Devon & Cornwall Police have been made under the experienced leadership of Chief Constable James Vaughan QPM.   

Last July, the force was removed from enhanced monitoring by the police inspectorate, nearly three years after being placed in what is commonly referred to as ‘special measures’. Significant failings had been identified around performance areas such as how the force was responding to emergency calls, recording crimes and investigating cases.  

Scrutiny carried out by my office meant the issues were already beginning to be tackled but the reasons for the decline were varied. They included the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and how those rules were enforced in policing, distractions caused by the proposed merger with Dorset, policing the G7 summit which was held in Cornwall in 2021, and the aftermath of the catastrophic mass shootings of five people in Keyham, also in 2021, which identified significant failings within the force. 

There have since been major improvements, particularly around firearms, and I can reassure that the force does now have a better grip on performance, but there is still work to do in many areas.  

Learning and changes have also been instigated following deaths in custody, and in the last five years, the force has reviewed the training in place for officers and staff to further improve the safety of detainees. 

Every death, no matter what the circumstances, always has an impact on you, but one that still stays with me today is that of 18-year-old Bobbi-Anne McLeod who was abducted from a bus stop in Plymouth in 2021 and murdered by a 24-year-old man. He was jailed for life and it remains my hope he is never realised because of the abhorrent actions he carried out.  

The Exeter murder of Lorraine Cox also had a massively profound impact on me, and I am full of nothing but complete admiration for her father Tony who has since been instrumental in helping make Exeter a safer place for all. 

I have also recently been inspired by the devoted family of 32-year-old Michael Riddiough-Allen who was fatally stabbed outside a nightclub in Bodmin three years ago. They set up the charity Mike’s Trust in 2024 and his sister Becky's compassionate approach to tackling knife crime through education is vital for preventing more victims. She recently appeared as a guest in my podcast series Your VIP: Your Voice in Policing.   

A consistent throughout my 10 years as Commissioner has been being your voice in policing by carefully listening to what is important to you. My term in office will end in May 2028 which is when Commissioners will be abolished and replaced with elected mayors or, as will be the case in Devon and Cornwall, a new Police and Crime Board made up of local council leaders.  

Hand on heart, I can say that despite the many challenges and changes the past decade has thrown my way, it has been an honour to represent our two counties and our islands. 

I have had the privilege of meeting and working with so many incredible people from all walks of life who either work or volunteer tirelessly to help improve the lives and safety of others.  

I remain as committed now as I was 10 years ago to delivering on my police and crime plan priorities of tackling antisocial behaviour, drugs and alcohol, serious violence and theft, and will continue to ensure the force focuses on the things that matter to you most and provides a service you can trust and have confidence in.