Devon and Cornwall Police handle around 60 protests each month, a police and crime panel has been told. Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said most demonstrations were small, but the force undertakes “significant tactical planning and engagement with community leaders” for larger events.
The panel also heard that hate crime has risen in both counties for a second consecutive year, with 2,354 offences recorded between August 2024 and August 2025. Racially motivated hate crime increased by 9.4%, equivalent to 114 additional incidents.
Some panel members from Plymouth called for greater engagement with city ward councillors, who have detailed local knowledge. Ms Hernandez said not every protest may require the same level of police management but welcomed receiving intelligence from councillors.
She added that hate crime reports are taken seriously, even when the incidents are not yet classified as criminal offences. “When there are national conversations about particularly contentious issues, there tends to be a spike in hate crime, which is why our words really do matter – our job locally is to help ease community tensions,” she said.
Ms Hernandez described reporting of hate crime as an “early indication of what is happening in our communities, an early warning sign.”
Councillor Joe Hodgetts noted that police discussions often focus on the barriers people face when reporting hate crime but do not always address solutions. Ms Hernandez acknowledged the point, saying she would consider it further.
