Ilfracombe Public Enquiry Office opens to public

The Ilfracombe Public Enquiry Office has now opened, offering the public more accessible ways to contact the police in North Devon.

This milestone marks a significant step forward in providing communities with easier access to law enforcement services.

Alison Hernandez, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, has committed to opening 18 Police Enquiry Offices by 2025, with 13 already operational and more in the pipeline.

To celebrate the progress made, a formal ribbon-cutting event was held at the front office of Ilfracombe police station on Thursday, February 22, with local community leaders and politicians in attendance.

Situated at Princess Avenue, Ilfracombe, the enquiry office will be staffed and open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 3pm, excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays. 

Since October 2023, Okehampton, Ilfracombe, Honiton, Kingsbridge, Devonport and Looe have also opened.

This initiative aims to provide members of the public with walk-in services, allowing them to speak to trained staff for crime reporting, crime prevention advice, and accessing victim services.

Acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell of Devon & Cornwall Police emphasised the importance of improving visibility and accessibility to better respond to public concerns.

He stated, "The decision to open more police station front offices across Devon and Cornwall is to improve public access to the police and boost engagement with our communities, enabling us to do so more quickly and effectively respond to public concerns."

Chief Superintendent Jennifer Bristow, Policing Commander for North, East, and West Devon, expressed her delight at the opening.

She said, "Making sure we are contactable when the public need us is crucial to allow us to understand the issues raised by local residents and capture valuable community intelligence."

A recent study revealed strong support for the initiative, particularly among young adults aged 16 to 24, indicating that opening enquiry offices would significantly increase public confidence in the police.

Looking ahead, plans are underway to open additional Police Enquiry Offices in Exeter city centre, Tavistock, Ivybridge, and Liskeard by 2025, with potential plans for a PEO in Exmouth.

With only 10 PEOs operational before the project began, the initiative marks a significant expansion of policing services across the region, with a total of 28 police stations expected to have front offices upon completion.

For more information on police station opening times, visit the Devon and Cornwall Police website or follow Ilfracombe Police on Facebook for updates.