Mel Stride MP has written to Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez after Devon and Cornwall Police has received more than £540,000 of additional funding to crack down on burglary and theft in local crime hotspots. The extra funding is part of the Government’s £25 million Safer Streets Fund and can be used for a variety of measures including to increase street-lighting, install CCTV, train community wardens or establish Neighbourhood Watch schemes.
Mel asked Commissioner Hernandez to ensure that smaller towns are not forgotten and specifically whether Crediton or Okehampton might be able to benefit. He said:
“Crime is not only a problem in our larger cities and towns. Our market towns and smaller communities are also affected by burglaries, anti-social behaviour and vandalism, and it is important they are not forgotten. Often local CCTV is inadequate and improving coverage, particularly in the high streets of our market towns, could make a big difference. It would help deter break-ins and anti-social behaviour in the first place, and if a crime did happen it would be easier to identify the perpetrator and secure a prosecution.”
Earlier this year Mel visited the Central Convenience Store and Post Office in Copplestone which was recently victim to an appalling robbery, with a masked intruder taking around £4,500. It is the second time in two-and-a-half years that the store has been targeted.