Crime in Drake, Plymouth

Officers have increased hi-visibility patrols at the location for the purposes of deterring those intent on engaging in criminal activity or anti-social behaviour as highlighted by the priority.
Officers have set out to increase community awareness of the issues faced and have increased their presence and proactivity at the location to provide re-assurance to business and residential communities with additional information and awareness provided through good use of the police DC Alert platform, Social Media, Op Vocals patrols and police surgery Coffee with Cops on Mutley Plain, which enables members of the community to meet the team and discuss issues that are important to them and how they can be addressed accordingly.

Officers are continuing to engage with Retail establishments being subjected to criminality, with security advice and hi-visibility patrols being conducted on a sustained and regular basis. Good progressive work and support through the PLYMOUTH AGAINST RETAIL CRIME (PARC) scheme and awareness around the benefits of the scheme to retail establishments is and will be a driving force to help to tackle and deter offenders attending Mutley Plain to commit crime in this manner. Further planned events with PARC are ongoing.

Street Drinking and associated Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) has been targeted with success. Intoxicated individuals, sometimes gathered in numbers on Mutley Plain engaged in nuisance and intimidating behaviour have had alcohol removed and/or been instructed to take alcohol home to consume, and discouraged from continuing or repeating to consume alcohol on the street and cause members of the public harassment, alarm or distress as a result of their behaviour. Through good use of the PSPO and ASB processes we have noted a significant downturn in these activities.

Drug use and the supply of drugs is being targeted by the team through planned operations, increased regular hi visibility and plain clothed patrols and the targeting of those suspected to be involved in criminality of this kind. This is set to be increased over the next couple of months and will be looking to achieve some degree of success with this.

Begging on Mutley Plain is being addressed with those engaging in this activity being offered assistance and signposting to relevant support networks and housing associations for those that are in need of this and wish to engage with us. The Plymouth Rough Sleeper Team are engaged in the processes and work closely to the team to ensure individuals are catered and signposted in the correct manner.

Officers are making very good pro-active use of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO0 powers, when dealing with individuals misusing the Napier Street car park. This objective of making the public car park a safer and more accessible place for visitors to Mutley Plain to park their cars is one of the team's priorities and will continue to be a focus for us.