Street marshal scheme hailed as ‘unprecedented success’ could be saved

A street marshals scheme which has helped to reduce anti-social behaviour in Barnstaple could continue if funding of £200,000 is approved.

North Devon Council has been financing the marshals for the last six months after government funding ran out, and will be asked again to make them part of its budget for next year.

Billed as an ‘unprecedented success’ reducing anti-social behaviour by a third in 2023, the marshals were part of the £350,000 Safer Streets programme for Barnstaple to tackle ASB and violence against women and girls.

Police said the presence of the two marshals, who had the same powers as police community support officers, since July 2022 was ‘reassuring’ in the town centre and they were ‘a great asset’.

They deal with early signs of ASB and also gather intelligence, enforce a Public Spaces Protection Order, provide first aid and a link to council and police teams by using the existing town centre radio network called Shopnet. Their medical assistance is said to have saved the NHS more than £10,000.

Members of the council strategy and resources committee, who will decide whether to continue financing the marshals at their meeting next month, were told by their chief finance officer this week that the council was ‘in a good financial position’.

A budget gap of £1 million for 2024/25 had been reduced to zero without cutting services to the public.