Ilfracombe's first Police Community Support Officer

North Devon gained its first Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) thanks to the Neighbourhood Management Programme.

PCSOs play a vital role in helping to reduce crime and the fear of crime. They provide a highly visible policing presence and contribute to community safety by tackling anti social behaviour, checking for truancy, confiscating alcohol from underaged youths, checking CCTV footage, dealing with abandoned and unlicensed vehicles, issuing fixed penalty notices for dog fouling, littering etc and providing crime prevention advice. Our PCSO looks similar to a police officer and will be clearly identifiable as an employee of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.

Fear of crime has swiftly emerged as a major concern for people in all three communities. Although crime statistics show that crime rates are actually falling in this area, many people still feel trapped in their own homes.

As a result of police involvement with the programme, the local police were chosen to conduct a Community Cohesion project, one of only 6 pilots nationally and the only one within the South West. As a small part of this project, Ilfracombe Police recruited PCSO Katie Simpson, the first Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) within North Devon.

PCSO Katie Simpson made a big difference in a short space of time, and Transform is now funding the appointment of a second PCSO who will patrol the three communities.