Street marshals patrolling streets of Cornwall town in crime crackdown

Street marshals are already a familiar sight in Camborne and will be carrying out high visibility patrols in the town centre
-Credit: (Image: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly)


Street marshals are patrolling the streets of another Cornish town to tackle crime. The marshals are focusing on "hotspot areas" in Camborne to address antisocial behaviour (ASB) and serious violence.

The marshals are not a new sight in the town - Cornish security company Infinitus previously provided Covid marshals in 2020, to offer people support and information. Their role has now expanded with patrols as part of the government-funded Safer Streets 5 programme.

Additional patrols are active in Newquay, Penzance, St Austell and Truro. Police data is being used to identify the hotspot locations and create patrol plans which have been shared with partners including town councils, Cornwall Council, local neighbourhood policing teams and Safer Cornwall.

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The arrival comes after the town has been plunged into sprees of violence and crime. In April one street was the centre of a mini crime wave as emergency services were called multiple times to separate serious incidents. Chapel Street in Camborne was flooded with police three days straight for drugs and violent offences. Read that full story here.

The continued troubles then prompted the town's new MP, Labour's Perran Moon, to declare that the town has an "urgent problem", which he said was "blindingly obvious" after various people, including its mayor, have spoken out recently about feeling unsafe. Read that full story here.

Cllr Carol Mould, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods at Cornwall Council, said: “Hot on the heels of its success in Newquay, Penzance, St Austell and Truro, it’s great to see hotspot policing expanded to Camborne. Street marshals play a vital role when it comes to tackling antisocial behaviour and violence on our streets and their visible presence acts as welcome reassurance to residents and businesses.

“One of the council’s four key priorities is to create and maintain vibrant, safe and supportive communities and initiatives like this are crucial to achieve this goal.”

Members of Cornwall Council, Camborne Town Council, including the town’s mayor Cllr James Ball, the neighbourhood policing team and street marshals after an operational briefing to launch the patrols
-Credit:Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

According to data supplied by the office of the police and crime commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, in August police and street marshals generated "more than 150 intelligence submissions and engaged with over 4,600 members of the public".

Police attended 38 antisocial behaviour incidents, made 13 safeguarding referrals, seized 14 pieces of property - including drugs, alcohol and stolen goods - and made 11 arrests.

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Camborne is also getting a new tri-service safety officer who will work alongside the three emergency services and support the delivery of hotspot patrols in the town centre.

Police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez secured £1 million in Home Office funding for hotspot policing. Camborne is one of 13 towns and cities to benefit, with a further £200,000 in match funding from the commissioner to increase the number of partner patrols across Devon and Cornwall.

The police and street marshals will be working together to share intelligence
The police and street marshals will be working together to share intelligence -Credit:Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

She said: “I have seen first-hand the dedicated partnership work happening in Camborne, where local teams are working hard to address important issues. I am pleased that this initiative will bring additional resources to the area.

"These focused patrols will enhance community safety and contribute to a more vibrant and welcoming environment for all."