Police in Truro are encouraging the community to use the StreetSafe tool to help identify areas where they don’t feel safe due to regular anti-social behaviour or harassment.

The call follows the introduction in March of Operation Loki, a new neighbourhood policing operation featuring targeted neighbourhood policing across Devon & Cornwall Police’s Safer Streets funded areas.

The force is using Home Office funds to reduce community concerns on a local level in specific areas, including Truro and Falmouth. StreetSafe is a free online tool introduced by the government in 2021 in a bid to tackle violence against women and girls. However, it can be used by anyone, at any time, for any reason. 

It enables users to pinpoint on an interactive map the location where they felt unsafe and why, with categories including anti-social behaviour, vandalism and other factors such as streetlighting. 

The information the public enters into the online form is secure and completely anonymous, and will help local police and partners to make changes for the better.

Superintendent Ian Thompson, Devon and Cornwall Police’s commander of West Cornwall said: “We’d like to remind people in Truro to use StreetSafe if they think an area needs attention in some way to help make them feel safer. 

“The better the quality of the information we receive, the better informed we are in our policing of the area.

“Cornwall remains one of the safest places in the country, which is a standing we want to retain. Any reports we receive through the StreetSafe tool will help shape the community safety activities of police and partners.”

Operation Loki was launched on March 20 and runs for four weeks, showcasing a range of policing tactics including pop-up police stations, high-visibility patrols, traffic operations, surveys, test purchases of age-restricted products, and community engagement by the diverse communities team, police support volunteers, volunteer police cadets and chaplaincy.

Deputy Chief Constable Jim Colwell said: “The issues in the Safer Streets areas are as unique as the communities that live there. Each local policing area has tailored their activities to target specific local issues, including violence against women and girls, anti-social behaviour, and the evening and night-time economy.

“We know that these concerns are felt in neighbourhoods across Devon and Cornwall, not just in the Safer Streets areas. 

“The lessons we learn from this operation will help us develop plans to tackle these issues across the force.”

The StreetSafe tool should not be used to report crimes or incidents. 

If anyone is in immediate danger or a crime is in progress, call 999.  For non-urgent crimes please go to www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/contact.