Public backs Devon and Cornwall Police remaining single force

Residents across Devon and Cornwall have voiced strong support for Devon & Cornwall Police continuing to operate as a single force, according to the latest results of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s 2026 Your Safety, Your Say survey.

The survey, launched in December 2025, received 1,533 responses between 11 December 2025 and 12 January 2026 - an 18% increase on the same period last year and well above the sample size required for statistically significant results. Although the survey remains open online, initial findings have been collated to help inform decisions on the policing element of council tax.

The results come amid uncertainty over the future of police governance and force structures. In November, the Government announced that Police and Crime Commissioners will not be replaced when their current terms of office end in May 2028. Further policing reforms are expected to be announced before the end of January, with reports suggesting police force mergers could be under consideration.

When asked about potential mergers, 66% of respondents said they would like Devon & Cornwall Police to continue in its current form. Nearly 18% favoured the creation of a South West regional force merging five forces, almost 13% supported a single police force for England, and 1.5% backed a separate Cornwall-only force. While views varied, many respondents highlighted the importance of maintaining service quality.

The survey also explored public confidence in policing. Confidence in Devon & Cornwall Police appears to have risen year on year, with 32% of respondents saying they feel “confident” or “extremely confident” in the force, compared with 29% last year. Respondents continued to report higher levels of confidence in local policing than in policing across the UK as a whole.

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) was identified as the top issue residents want the police to address, followed by drugs, people carrying weapons, dangerous driving and shoplifting. These were the same top five concerns as in last year’s survey, with ASB again most frequently selected as the area requiring further investment under the Police and Crime Plan.

There was also strong public backing for increased funding to tackle violence against women and girls, with six in 10 respondents saying more money should be spent in this area - most of them male. Support for independent victim services was similarly high, with 79% agreeing that victims should receive support from services independent of the police.

On police governance, 62% of respondents said they would like more say in how the police element of council tax is spent. The most popular option for oversight was replacing Police and Crime Commissioners with a policing board made up of council leaders across Devon and Cornwall, supported by 42% of respondents. Nearly a third said they would prefer to keep the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, 8% favoured scrutiny by an elected mayor, and 7% said they did not believe the police need to be held to account.

The survey also examined community cohesion, with 45.5% of respondents agreeing that their local area is a place where “people from different backgrounds get on together”.

The Your Safety, Your Say survey was promoted through local and national media, social media campaigns and in-person engagement events across Devon and Cornwall, including youth groups, shopping centres, colleges and cultural venues.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez thanked residents for taking part, saying: “I would like to thank everyone who has filled out our survey. It is reassuring to see my priorities continue to be aligned with the things that matter most to people.

“For example, to help tackle ASB and improve safety my office has launched a Street Focus partnership in Camborne following the success of project Street Focus Torquay.

“Theft is another increasing concern. Police officers have been targeting resources on a crackdown on crime in Plymouth city centre following an increase in reports of shoplifting and ASB, including street drinking. Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) was also launched last year to offer a more collaborative and effective approach to reducing retail crime, and my office is continuing with the roll-out of business crime reduction solution UK Partners Against Crime (UKPAC).

“The fight against drugs continues to be disrupted by regular coordinated policing operations across the peninsula, including Operation Scorpion and Pubs Against Drugs. These continue to deliver great results and send out a clear message that drugs will not be tolerated in our communities.”

The findings of the annual survey will help shape future policing priorities across Devon and Cornwall. Carrying out the survey each year is a statutory requirement linked to setting the police element of council tax.

The Your Safety, Your Say survey remains open and can be completed via the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office website.