A rise in council tax on second homes at a popular tourist hotspot will be used to fund police patrols. Council tax on second homes in Devon and Cornwall is set for a dramatic hike, with the extra revenue earmarked for boosting police presence in the area.
The force is anticipating an additional £6 million once local councils double council tax rates for holiday properties starting April 2025. This will support initiatives like enhanced patrols and community CCTV.
Commenting on the financial boon, Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez has indicated the money could also help shift officers from desk jobs to the streets. She mentioned to The Guardian: “With its high proportion of holiday properties, the force is one of the key beneficiaries of a decision by councils to double council tax rates for second homes.”
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In a commitment to reinforce law and order, Ms Hernandez spoke of using some funds to expand the Street Focus initiative and sustain visible patrols throughout the two counties. “I may use some of the additional revenue to expand my Street Focus project and maintain high-visibility patrols in communities across Devon and Cornwall.”
Launching in Torquay, Devon, the Street Focus programme, as highlighted by Ms Hernandez, confronts issues like antisocial behaviour and drug crimes. She revealed that from May to November 2024, as part of this scheme, officers conducted 13,016 targeted foot patrols and made a total of 70 arrests, reports the Mirror.
Commissioner Hernandez said: “We know that when people see officers in their community and engage with them, their confidence in policing improves. I also plan to invest in keeping people safe with money set aside for additional CCTV, night buses and street marshals. And I want to use the funding to keep sworn officers out of back-office roles which can – and should – be done by civilians,” The proposed council tax increase has been met with controversy, with some residents arguing that the expected £25 million raised in Cornwall should be spent on improving housing, while others in Devon are concerned that the majority of the funds will go towards road maintenance. The total police budget for Devon and Cornwall is set to rise to £430 million in 2025-26, up from £406.5 million in the previous year, with 12% of council tax payments going towards policing.
Meanwhile, local authorities in Cornwall and Devon are planning to introduce a 100% council tax premium on second homes from April 2025, under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act.