North Devon councillors have voiced concerns after learning dedicated police officers linked to community safety work with the council are being withdrawn as part of a restructuring by Devon and Cornwall Police.
Members of North Devon Council’s Licensing and Community Safety Committee heard on Tuesday, May 12, that the force is replacing its community safety sergeant role with a new child-centred policing position.
Tim Birtwhistle, community safety lead at North Devon Council, told councillors the authority had enjoyed a “long-standing partnership” with police officers working closely alongside council staff and community safety teams.
He said the arrangement had been particularly important in tackling anti-social behaviour and supporting partnership work through the Community Safety Partnership.
Speaking at the meeting, Tim said: “The police have been really helpful in terms of anti-social behaviour and all those kinds of joint partnership work and stuff that we do.”
He explained that dedicated officers, including former community safety sergeants, would no longer continue in those roles following the restructuring.
Instead, the council will now work directly with neighbourhood policing sectors covering Barnstaple, Torridge and wider northern Devon.
Tim said a letter sent on behalf of local police commander Chief Superintendent Emma Butler-Jones stated the changes followed national guidance around child-centred policing.
The letter said: “The National Police Chiefs’ Council strategy on children and young people has given clear direction to all police forces on how to embrace child-centred policing in the future.”
It added: “Too many children and young people remain blighted by crime, whether as victims or offenders.”
Councillors said they understood the pressures on police resources but feared the changes could affect communication and intelligence-sharing between communities and the force.
Cllr Frank Biederman described the decision as “disappointing”.
He said: “They were obviously doing really valuable work in the partnership.”
Cllr Biederman suggested the council should write to police leaders, the police and crime commissioner and local MPs outlining concerns over the impact the changes could have on communities.
He also said councillors valued the direct contact with officers during committee meetings.
“We have got that open communication,” he said.
“I think really that request that they do at least attend every other licensing committee meeting.”
Cllr June Williams said it was important police support continued for anti-social behaviour officers and street marshals operating across the district.
She said: “If they could ensure that the local police officers can continue their support in the absence of a designated officer for community safety, in particular for anti-social behaviour matters, that would be something.”
Tim said the council still had strong relationships with local policing inspectors and stressed the changes did not represent a breakdown in relations with Devon and Cornwall Police.
He said: “We are confident that that will continue. It is just that dedicated resource really.”
Cllr Susan Whitehead said information shared by police officers at committee meetings had often been passed on to parish councils.
She said: “They are all very interested in exactly what we are talking about now, and what am I going to take to them?”
Cllr Luisa York questioned whether the decision had been based on resources or policing data.
Tim responded that North Devon’s close working relationship between the council and police had been unusual compared with other areas.
He added that police would continue helping the council with risk-based work and operational checks where required.
