Devon and Cornwall Police numbers up

And they want another 300 officers

Devon & Cornwall Police has had a huge increased in officer numbers, following a slow rebuilding because of savage cuts in the austerity years introduced in 2010.

In the last three years, the force says it has injected "much-needed resources to frontline teams."

Almost 620 new officers have been funded nationally and by increasing the police's element of council tax locally. 

Nearly 1,500 new cops joined the Devon and Cornwall force in the four year to 2023 - the biggest recruitment drive in the Force’s history.

Deputy Chief Constable Jim Colwell said: “Having had to reduce officer numbers, our communities had been asking for many years for a boost in officer numbers and we were delighted when the Uplift and council precept funding was made available to us.

“Our teams have worked tirelessly over the last three years to ensure we have recruited the right people with the right attributes to become a police officer in Devon & Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

“While a number of these new officers will still be going through their training, there are a substantial number who are already out there in our communities making a real difference. We have been able to boost resources in a range of key teams and departments to help us keep people safe and bring dangerous offenders to justice. We have bolstered our frontline patrol teams across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, as well as increase resilience in our neighbourhood policing and Roads Policing teams.”

Resources have also been boosted in the Incident Resolution Centre, which triages 88 per cent of all recorded crime coming into the force, and in the Moonstone team – the force’s response to domestic abuse investigation and safeguarding.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Alison Hernandez said: 

“This is the largest amount of police officers we have had on record since the inception and is thanks to the government and council taxpayers.

“Now we have the job of getting these officers fully trained with the experience they need to get out into our communities to serve the public who have long awaited their arrival.”

The force plans to recruit another 302 officers by the end of March 2024.

Police Constable Sophie Crawford works in patrol in Plymouth and is coming to the end of her second year of training and degree. She said: “I joined Devon & Cornwall Police as I have always wanted to be a police officer however when I was 17, I became the victim of domestic abuse and the way the police responded and supported me gave me a push to want to do it sooner rather than later and I have no regrets.

“I have found the process amazing, and the training does prepare you well for what we face out on the frontline. I am part of a fantastic team with a support sergeant and inspector and all teams I have worked with have been much the same.”

Police Constable James Blockwell, who joined in October via the Degree Holder Entry Programme and is stationed in Exeter, is also working towards independent patrol status.

He said: “I was a scaffolder before I joined the police, but I am also a service reservist with the Navy.

“I joined the police to be in a uniformed profession where everyone helps each other out and looks after one another. I’ve enjoyed getting out on patrol in the city centre talking to people and being a friendly face for people to look to for help.”