Devon and Cornwall Police have said they are aiming to halve knife crime after receiving £1m in funding for extra foot patrols in problem areas. The force said the scheme, which initially launched in May 2024, saw more than 26,000 hours of additional foot patrols across the two counties in its first year of operation....
Ben Woolvin BBC South West home affairs correspondent Erin Black BBC News, South West BBC The IOPC said Mr Colwell had no case to answer over the alleged use a work mobile phone to exchange personal messages The police watchdog has concluded there is no evidence of gross misconduct by the former acting chief constable...
Kevin Hay BBC News, South West BBC Max Embury was a Scout Car Commander “We did think of the casualties… and we were thinking why them and not me?” Three men from Devon and Cornwall have recalled their memories of their service during World War Two on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Former Scout...
Eve Watson BBC News, South West BBC It will be 80 years since the announcement of the end of the war in Europe at exactly 15:00 BST People in Devon and Cornwall are marking the 80th anniversary since the end of World War Two in Europe. On 8 May 1945 at exactly 15:00 BST, Sir...
Emma Ruminski BBC South West arts reporter Steve Tanner, Black Bear Pictures Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs play Raynor and Moth in the film The Salt Path A best-selling book about one couple’s journey of discovery on the South West Coast Path has created a trail of walkers inspired by their story. Written by Raynor...
Martyn Oates BBC South West political editor BBC Political parties in both Devon and Cornwall will need to form coalitions to run their respective councils As the dust settles on local elections in Devon and Cornwall, Martyn Oates considers what the results mean for the political picture in the South West. Two councils slipping into...
Christine Butler BBC News, Cornwall BBC Passengers line up in Callington after waiting for the bus to Launceston Passengers say they are angry and confused at changes to some bus routes in Cornwall. One of the routes used to be a direct service from Bude to Plymouth. However, the journey has been split into three,...
Chloe Parkman BBC News, South West BBC PC Lucy Wyatt said the training was “invaluable” Police officers have been learning how to handle donkeys in a bid to tackle equine crime and welfare. Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police’s rural affairs team received training at the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary on Wednesday as part of national...
Ben Woolvin BBC South West home affairs correspondent Charlotte Cox BBC News, South West BBC Chief Constable James Vaughan met with survivors of abuse, stalking and sexual offences The police chief for Devon and Cornwall has vowed to “relentlessly pursue” perpetrators of stalking and abuse crimes after meeting with victims. Among them was Georgia Gabriel-Hooper,...
Catholic communities across the South West are remembering Pope Francis on the day of his funeral. Pope Francis died at 07:35 local time on Monday after a final public appearance for an Easter Sunday blessing at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square. His funeral is at 10:00 BST. Canon Mark O’Keeffe, Dean of Plymouth Cathedral, said...
A criminal investigation into suspended Devon & Cornwall Police Chief Constable Will Kerr has been dropped, according to Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez. Will Kerr was suspended from duty in July 2023 just seven months after being appointed to lead Devon & Cornwall Police. An investigation over allegations of sexual offences,...
Heavy rain forecast across Devon and Cornwall has led to a 19-hour weather warning being issued. The Met Office said the warning would be in place from 14:00 BST on Friday until 09:00 on Saturday as a “prolonged spell of rain” moved across the two counties. It said up to 75mm (2.95 inches) of rain...
Easter weekend has “traditionally” been a busier time for the NHS in Devon and Cornwall, Devon’s chief medical officer has warned. Peter Collins said the regions’ services would “remain open” and would “provide emergency services for those in need”. But he stressed a rise in holidaymakers could result in longer wait times over the weekend...
The suspended chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Will Kerr, is not to be prosecuted over allegations of sexual offending and misconduct in office. The allegations related to his time at the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said after careful consideration, the evidence was “insufficient” to provide...
The Northern Lights have put on colourful displays in the night sky across Devon and Cornwall. Spectacular images were taken by BBC Weather Watchers across both counties on Wednesday as the lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, appeared between 22:00 and 23:00 BST. The lights, which had a pink-purple hue, were spotted over parts of...