Police recorded 1,875 crimes in the Torquay town centre area in 2025, according to figures on the Devon and Cornwall Police Torquay Town Centre statistics page. The data comes after a major safety push in Torquay, Devon, which focused on Castle Circus and the high-street shopping areas.
While violence remains a concern, some types of nuisance behaviour fell notably: reports of begging were down 56% and general anti-social behaviour declined by about 26% in the Torquay town centre during the calendar year (Jan 1–Dec 31, 2025), according to local policing figures. (Note: some partner statements describe ASB reductions as ‘around 25%’ since Street Focus began; clarify the baseline if a different comparison is intended.)
These improvements follow a £1 million Home Office hotspot policing grant secured by Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez to fund extra patrols, and a separate £300,000 contribution from the OPCC in 2025 to support street marshals. Alison Hernandez said the targeted funding helped address issues that had long bothered local shops and residents.
Torbay Council also supported the effort with increased CCTV monitoring, additional street cleaning and other measures. Local police have planned pop-up community surgeries and drop-in events in 2026 to gather public feedback.
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