Devon and Cornwall Police call for extra Government funding to help with summer policing

Road accidents, 999 calls and arrests rise sharply during the tourist season. Credit: ITV West Country

Devon and Cornwall Police is calling for extra Government funding to help with policing over the summer months.

The population of the West Country increases from 1.7 million to more than 11 million people at the height of the holidays, with no extra resources to police them.

Road accidents, 999 calls and arrests rise sharply during the tourist season and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and Chief Constable are asking for a special grant.

The population of the West Country increases significantly at the height of the holidays. Credit: ITV West Country

Alison Hernandez and Shaun Sawyer are in talks with the Home Office after writing to Policing Minister Nick Hurd last week.

The PCC and Chief Constable also say Devon and Cornwall Police receives less money per head of population than other forces.

They are calling for this to be recognised in the next Government Comprehensive Spending Review.

Ms Hernandez says a recent increase in the Government grant and allowing police forces to raise the council tax precept "meant we could set a budget that allowed the Chief Constable to recruit a further 85 officers but I want to go further.

"Uncertainty over Brexit has already been credited for bringing more tourists to our part of the world. That's good news for our economy but presents us with a policing challenge which I am pleased that the Government seems open to discussing.

"We want to ensure that people visit us, have a great time and are kept safe by a police force that is sufficiently resourced."