Devon and Cornwall Police have announced a seasonal policing plan intended to bolster frontline capacity during the busiest months of the year, with officers and senior leaders temporarily returning to public-facing duties to meet heightened demand.
Operational changes to increase visible policing
The plan will see officers who would normally be delivering training carry out at least five patrol or front-line shifts across July and August. Training scheduled for August has been postponed and limits have been placed on annual leave for officers and staff during the peak period to enable redeployment.
Senior operational leaders will also resume front-line duties, while Chief Constable James Vaughan will spend time supporting the force's contact team. The measures are being carried out across the force area as seasonal visitor numbers swell and incidents increase.
Why the changes were introduced
The move follows a notable rise in demand for emergency policing during last summer. Between June and September 2025, the force recorded a higher volume of urgent incidents when compared with the rest of the year.
| Period | Average urgent calls per day |
|---|---|
| June–September 2025 | 292 |
| Other eight months | 255 |
The force responded to roughly 15% more urgent incidents during the summer months than across the rest of the year, prompting the temporary redeployment to maintain a visible presence and ensure timely responses.
Local leadership and community-facing activity
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez welcomed the initiative and publicly thanked officers and staff who have agreed to altered duties over the holiday period.
"I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all officers and staff who will be taking on different shifts and helping to maintain public visibility during this exceptionally busy time."
The Commissioner is scheduled to join PC Craig Williams on patrol in Barnstaple. PC Williams, normally assigned to public order training, is among those temporarily moved to frontline roles. Other members of training teams will support custody suites and assist detectives with investigations.
What this means for residents and visitors
- Increased visible patrols across tourist hotspots and town centres during July and August.
- Short-term postponement of some training courses in August.
- Temporary restrictions on annual leave for some staff to maintain operational cover.
Commissioner Hernandez has also reiterated calls for Government recognition of the extra costs associated with policing the South West's seasonal visitor influx and has urged funding that reflects those pressures.
The seasonal plan is a short-term operational response aimed at keeping communities safe while managing the surge in demand experienced historically over the summer months. The force says it will continue to monitor demand and adjust deployments as required.
