THE number of anti-social behaviour incidents reported to Devon and Cornwall police have dropped in the last 12 months by 10 per cent.

Police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez says that “significant efforts” are being made to tackle ASB.

A number of town councils had written to the commissioner expressing concern over persistent behaviour.

In a report to the Devon and Cornwall police and crime panel, she highlighted the use of legal powers such as community protection warnings (CPWs) and notices (CPNs) which were sending “a clear message that communities should not have to tolerate persistent antisocial behaviour.

Over the past year targeted interventions have included 31 closure orders, youth civil injunctions, prosecutions for injunction breaches and more than 40 CPWs and CPNs.

In the 12 months to May 2026, there was a 10.2% reduction in ASB incidents reported to Devon and Cornwall Police, falling from 26,695 incidents to 23,969.

Targeted hotspot policing patrols in 15 locations, Street Focus initiatives and community safety partnerships have been used to try and tackle ASB in towns and city centres.

‘Hotspot policing’ was supported with £2 million of Home Office funding from 2024-2026 with a further investment of £300,000 from the commissioner’s office but the funding ended in April, with hotspot policing incorporated into “business as usual”.

The funding also “propped up” the successful street marshals scheme.

Concerns were raised by members of the police and crime panel over where the funding for the successful initiative to support the police to deter low level crime and ASB would come from in the future.

Street marshals have enforcement and limited policing powers and are a uniformed presence but not police officers.

Miss Hernandez’s office has funded the scheme until the end of the summer to the tune of £150,000 in 15 towns and cities to cover the population growth from tourism.

She warned that funding would come to an end in September and asked that the panel, made up of councillors from Devon and Cornwall, champion the initiative to central government.

Members heard during the meeting about the work of the “tri service officers” in Cornwall who help support communities and address issues like antisocial behaviour and crime prevention as well as respond to 999 emergency calls as a firefighter on behalf of the fire service and a community first responder on behalf of the ambulance service .

The initiative is being extended to Devon, with the aim of having one based at every fire station in the two counties in the future.

Miss Hernandez said schemes like this and the street marshals helped support the police in its mission to tackle ASB.

‘Anti-social behaviour can make people feel unsafe in their own communities, prevent them from enjoying public spaces and have a damaging effect on town centres, neighbourhoods and rural areas,’ she said.

‘While Devon and Cornwall remains one of the safest places in the country, I know from speaking to councils, businesses and residents that antisocial behaviour continues to be one of the issues people are most concerned about.

‘Every incident affects real people. Whether it is persistent street disorder, nuisance neighbours, intimidating behaviour, dangerous driving or rural antisocial behaviour, the impact on victims can be significant.

‘My priority is to ensure communities feel safer, supported and listened to, and that every available tool is used to create safer, stronger and more confident communities.’

Alongside enforcement activity, the commissioner said she was “investing heavily” in prevention and early intervention.

This includes funding a dedicated youth ASB assertive outreach service, which works directly with young people who may be at risk of becoming involved in antisocial behaviour or criminality. Since launching in 2022, the service has delivered more than 1,700 sessions and supported over 2,100 children and young people, with 82 per cent achieving a positive outcome.

Additional support is provided through community mediation services, restorative justice programmes and neighbourhood watch schemes.

Miss Hernandez has encouraged people to keep reporting every incident of ASB.