Police designate powers to Torbay Council and SWISCo teams to help combat anti-social behaviour

Torbay Council and SWISCo officers have been granted extra powers to help them combat anti-social behaviour and environmental issues affecting Torbay.

Devon & Cornwall Police has accredited Torbay Council’s town centre officers and SWISCo’s enforcement officers with limited police powers through the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS).

The scheme, running across Devon and Cornwall since 2005, means six officers from both organisations now have additional enforcement powers which can be used across Torbay.

A further three officers are currently going through the vetting process.

The new powers mean that Torbay Council’s town centre officers now have the power to request names and addresses for people involved in anti-social behaviour.

Both the council and SWISCo have the power to request a name and address for a relevant fixed penalty offence. They can also both have access to and share information and intelligence with Devon & Cornwall Police.

Individuals who do not comply with these requests are committing an offence.

Low level crime has fallen in areas where CSAS has been introduced and there have also been more joint operations and activities.

Inspector Rob Harvey, Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for Torquay, explained: “The Torquay Neighbourhood Team has a great working relationship with the town centre officer team. The addition of the CSAS accreditation is a positive step to bring them closer to the policing family.

“Now, more than ever, it is vital to tackle broad issues such as anti-social behaviour together in a collaborative longer-term problem-solving approach and we look forward to tackling these issues together.”

The CSAS powers, which can only be granted by the Chief Constable, mean accredited representatives can assist in combating crime and disorder, public nuisance and other forms of anti-social behaviour in co-operation with the police.

To use their powers, each accredited person must:

Becki Brodest, Community Safety Accreditation Scheme Manager at Devon & Cornwall Police, said: “There are a number of benefits of the CSAS scheme, including reassurance to members of the community of the training and vetting completed by accredited persons.

“It also allows better communication and improved relationships between the police and partner agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour and other low-level crime and disorder, which can impact significantly upon communities across Devon and Cornwall.

“The accreditation of limited but targeted powers allows accredited persons to be more effective in the role they already undertake, but more importantly assists with ensuring safer communities for all to live, work and visit.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Alison Hernandez added: “Our region has now been benefiting from people with CSAS powers for 20 years. These dedicated individuals play a vital role in using their designated powers to help keep communities safe.

“It is reassuring to know that Torbay will now benefit from six more people being part of the scheme which helps reduce crime and antisocial behaviour and supports frontline policing.

“I am pleased that through stronger partnership working such as my programme Street Focus Torbay and the Council’s Operation Town Centres initiative, that adopting these powers is now benefiting the communities in Torbay.”

Councillor David Thomas, Leader of Torbay Council, commented: “As part of our work on Operation Town Centres, we already have Public Space Protection Orders in place in our towns, which means officers can challenge certain anti-social behaviour. This extra power is another tool in our armoury.

“Our teams work closely with our police partners, but I hope these powers will strengthen that even more to help keep our communities safe for all.”

Read more about the CSAS scheme via the Devon & Cornwall Police website The community safety accreditation scheme (CSAS) | Devon & Cornwall Police

Photo caption: Cllr David Thomas (left) with Inspector Rob Harvey (right) and some of the Torbay Council staff who have been granted additional powers.