Residents and visitors in Torquay can expect a more visible police presence this summer, as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Alison Hernandez, has secured £150,000 to maintain street marshal patrols in the town until 30 September 2026.
The funding supports a scheme that provides uniformed patrols to deter antisocial behaviour and offer reassurance to locals and business owners. These marshals will operate as part of a wider effort involving Devon & Cornwall Police and local partners to maintain safety in the town centre during the busy tourist season.
The marshals are accredited through the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme. This allows them to use limited enforcement powers, such as requesting details from people involved in certain offences or confiscating alcohol and tobacco from young people.
This initiative builds upon the work of the Street Focus multi-agency project, which was launched in June 2024 to address issues such as violence, drug abuse, and antisocial behaviour in areas like Castle Circus. Following the launch of that project, officials reported a decline in local crime rates.
While previous national funding for similar policing programmes from the Home Office has ended, this new investment serves as a bridge while long-term plans are developed. During the final nine months of 2025, nearly 8,000 hours of marshal patrols were delivered across 15 different locations in the region.
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