Devon & Cornwall Police
South West · Territorial force · 3,400 officers
Key Statistics
Officers
3,400
Staff
1,700
Area (sq miles)
3,960
Population served
1,780,000
About Devon & Cornwall Police
One of the largest geographical force areas in England, covering Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Predominantly rural with seasonal tourism surges, offering an excellent quality of life.
Devon & Cornwall Police serves one of the largest geographical territories in England, encompassing both rural and urban areas, with significant seasonal tourism from beach resorts and national parks. The force's area covers diverse landscapes including coastal regions and rural communities, which may present unique challenges and opportunities for policing. This territorial force shares borders with other police jurisdictions and is adjacent to several transport corridors, enhancing its operational scope in tackling cross-border crime. Additionally, its proximity to the Isles of Scilly presents logistical considerations that are distinct from mainland policing.
The police force has notable specialist units including a Marine Unit, which is crucial given the extensive coastline, and a Dog Unit that supports various operations across the region. Also, the Cyber Crime Team addresses the increasing threats in digital crime and helps protect local communities from cyber-related offenses. The force’s Public Protection Unit focuses on safeguarding vulnerable individuals, reflecting its commitment to community welfare.
In terms of current strategic priorities, Devon & Cornwall Police is concentrating on enhancing community engagement, combating serious violence, and improving responses to domestic abuse. They also place a strong emphasis on countering road-related offenses, which is particularly significant given the rural road networks within their area. These priorities underline the force's commitment to maintaining public safety and addressing the diverse needs of the communities they serve.
Current priorities
- Enhancing community engagement
- Combating serious violence
- Improving responses to domestic abuse
- Countering road-related offenses
Notable specialisms
Source: About Devon & Cornwall Police. Summary fetched 2026-07-05.
Public-data snapshot
Workforce
Officers
3,400
Staff
1,700
Total headcount
5,100
Source: Home Office Police Workforce Statistics as of 31 March 2025 · OGL v3
HMICFRS PEEL rating
requires improvement
Inspection cycle: 2023-2025
Source: HMICFRS PEEL assessments · Open Government Licence v3.0
In recent oversight reports
Devon & Cornwall Police is named in 3 recent IOPC investigation outcomes or HMICFRS thematic reports.
Investigation into conduct allegations against Devon and Cornwall deputy chief constable concluded
2025-05-08 · IOPC
Terms of reference: Home Secretary’s commission for a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services
2023-07-19 · HMICFRS
Joint inspection of the investigation and prosecution of fatal road traffic incidents
2015-02-04 · HMICFRS
From data.police.uk
data.police.uk covers England, Wales & Northern Ireland; not Police Scotland.
Stop and search
Latest available month: 2026-08. 596 recorded stop-and-search records that month. Officer-defined ethnicity was recorded on 97.5% of records.
By object of search (2026-08)
| Controlled drugs | 343 |
| Offensive weapons | 134 |
| Stolen goods | 55 |
| (not recorded) | 29 |
| Article for use in theft | 22 |
| Articles for use in criminal damage | 7 |
| Firearms | 6 |
By outcome (2026-08)
| A no further action disposal | 364 |
| Arrest | 122 |
| Community resolution | 69 |
| (not recorded) | 37 |
| Summons / charged by post | 4 |
Source: data.police.uk · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recorded crime by category
13,353 crimes recorded by Devon & Cornwall Police in 2026-08 (latest published month), by category. Counted from the published street-level archive; England, Wales & Northern Ireland only.
| Crime type (2026-08) | Recorded |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 6,046 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,598 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 1,223 |
| Other theft | 1,024 |
| Shoplifting | 1,011 |
| Public order | 885 |
| Drugs | 349 |
| Burglary | 319 |
| Vehicle crime | 276 |
| Other crime | 228 |
| Possession of weapons | 165 |
| Theft from the person | 96 |
| Robbery | 71 |
| Bicycle theft | 62 |
| Total | 13,353 |
Source: data.police.uk street-level archive · Open Government Licence v3.0
Deaths during or following police contact
IOPC-recorded fatalities involving Devon & Cornwall Police over 2004/05 to 2024/25 (2024/25 in brackets). These use the IOPC’s five categories, which have different definitions and are not additive. Figures count incidents the IOPC attributed to Devon & Cornwall Police; see the national page for how multi-force incidents are handled.
Recruitment
How to join Devon & Cornwall Police
Application stages, entry routes, fitness and vetting requirements.