Devon & Cornwall Police News site

The drive to provide communities in Devonport with more ways to contact the police will be highlighted by a formal opening event at Devonport police station on Friday.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Alison Hernandez, promised to open 18 Police Enquiry Offices (PEOs) by 2025 and 13 of these are already up and running with others to follow.

To mark the progress made so far, the front office at Devonport, which is already staffed, will be holding a formal ribbon-cutting event on Friday 23 February, with local community leaders and politicians invited.

Police station front desks allow members of the public to have access to walk-in services where they can speak to trained staff who can help with crime reporting, crime prevention advice, and help with accessing victim services.

The first PEO to be reopened was in Newquay in 2020. Tiverton, Newton Abbot, Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, Bude PEOs followed in 2021-22.

Since October 2023, Okehampton, Ilfracombe, Honiton, Kingsbridge, and Looe have also opened.

Acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “The decision to open more police station front offices across Devon and Cornwall is to improve public access to the police and boost engagement with our communities, enabling us to more quickly and effectively respond to public concerns.

“Continuing to improve the visibility and accessibility of Devon & Cornwall Police is a priority for the Force.

“When not dealing with members of the public face-to-face, our Police Enquiry Officers will be able to assist colleagues in the control rooms by handling non-urgent digital contact from the public and provide the local community with another contact option.”

Plymouth Commander Acting Chief Superintendent Scott Bradley added: “The opening of the Devonport Public Enquiry Office gives us an additional opportunity to connect with our local community and help with any queries or issues face-to-face.

“The PEO also offers another avenue for our neighbourhood policing team to understand what issues are affecting the community in Devonport."

A recent study revealed 16 to 24 year-olds were the most likely to think opening Public Enquiry Offices would significantly increase public confidence in the police, and over a quarter of people aged over 65 agreed.    

Earlier this month PCC Alison Hernandez announced plans to open further Police Enquiry Offices in Exeter city centre, Tavistock, Ivybridge, and Liskeard. These are expected to open by 2025. Plans for a PEO in Exmouth are also being outlined but no opening date has been decided.

PCC Hernandez said: “Communities in Devonport will now be able to access policing closer to home when needing to report a crime or ask for advice.

“This forms part of the most ambitious programme of Police Enquiry Office reopening in the country and my vision is for face-to face contact with the force to be an option for everyone in our force area.  This will ensure that wherever you live in Devon and Cornwall – including rural, coastal and urban areas – you will be able to access a Police Enquiry Office.”

Only 10 PEOs were open before the project began. These PEOs were located at Camborne, Bodmin, Barnstaple, Exeter, Newton Abbot, Torquay, Isles of Scilly, Charles Cross, Crownhill and St Austell.   

A total of 28 police stations across Devon and Cornwall will have front offices when the project is complete. 

Opening times for police stations can be found on our website.