Devon & Cornwall Police Handle 60 Protests Monthly

Devon and Cornwall Police are facing a significant increase in community unrest, handling approximately 60 protests each month. Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez informed a panel that while many protests are small, substantial tactical planning is required for larger demonstrations. This surge in unrest coincides with a worrying rise in hate crime across both counties for the second consecutive year.

From August 2024 to August 2025, a total of 2,354 hate crimes were recorded. Notably, racial hate crime saw a substantial increase of 9.4%, equating to 114 additional crimes. Panel members from Plymouth called for enhanced engagement with local city councillors, who possess valuable area-specific knowledge. Hernandez acknowledged the input, suggesting that not all protests may necessitate the same level of police management.

The Commissioner emphasized that all reports of hate crime are taken seriously, even if they do not immediately constitute a crime. She pointed out that national discussions on contentious issues often correlate with spikes in hate crime, underscoring the importance of local efforts to de-escalate community tensions. Councillor Joe Hodgetts raised concerns about the focus on identifying barriers to reporting hate crime without proposing solutions.