What is the Police and Crime Commissioner doing to address drug-related antisocial behaviour (ASB)?
As part of the Commissioner’s over-arching focus on tackling drugs, a range of initiatives are taking place across the peninsula to address issues linked to ASB - such as street-based drug-taking and drug littering. Below are a few examples:
- Investment in a dedicated Crimestoppers campaign to enhance and improve intelligence on drug activity across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
- Working with partners to take action in areas where the presence and impacts of drugs are the highest, including the Commissioner’s recent endorsement of the establishment of a new Substance Misuse and Antisocial Behaviour group in Torquay which will look at new ways of reducing these issues within the town centre areas.
- Supporting the delivery of Safer Street Fund projects in Plymouth, Torquay, Exeter, Truro and Barnstaple during 2022-2023. Commissioners and partners have secured over £3.1million of government funding this year for Safer Streets Fund, with match contributions delivering an additional £1million (£4.1million in total). These projects include significant focus on town and city-centre based ASB, including drug-related ASB.
- Enabling local communities to take forward their own projects through the Commissioner’s Community Grant Fund. This has included a round in 2021-22 focused on raising awareness of drugs, and one in 2022-23, focused specifically on ASB (including drug-related ASB). Grants are administered by Devon Community Foundation and Cornwall Community Foundation on the Commissioner’s behalf. Further funding competitions will operate in 2023-24 and further information on the funds and how to apply can be found at the following links:
Safer, Connected Communities - Devon Community Foundation (devoncf.com)