St Ives Town Council, in close partnership with St Ives BID, are funding a scheme to pilot regular patrols of street marshals over the Summer holidays.
The marshals will be employed by Infinitus Security Ltd, a trusted partner, who also manage and monitor the town centre CCTV system. The pilot aims to address the pressures placed on the town in the Summer months with spikes in anti-social behaviour and petty crime.
Marshals are no substitute for the police but work very closely alongside them as their eyes and ears. This project will mirror the positive impact of similar teams in Penzance, Truro and Camborne. The marshals will be carrying out regular, randomised patrols in both the daytimes and evenings around the area’s hotspots identified with the police and businesses.
Their aims are to:
- Provide visible, reassuring patrols to residents, traders, and visitors
- Enhance the reputation of St Ives as a safe, family-friendly destination, assisting with wayfinding, information, and general public support
- Foster positive engagement between all sections of the community
- De-escalate situations that could lead to anti-social behaviour
- Assist in the reduction of incidents of anti-social behaviour and low-level crime
- Support local law enforcement and emergency services and proactively liaise with the St Ives Community Policing team and the St Ives Public Spaces Protection Order multi skilled enforcement team, reporting relevant incidents to both, as appropriate
- Build relationships with local businesses, encouraging the active reporting through the DISC app and future use of radio systems
- Provide a link between businesses and public services and reporting any issues and helping these to be addressed quickly
- Where appropriate, apply special powers under the Police Reform Act 2002 to support community safety and prevent anti-social behaviour
Introducing the pilot, Sarah Hooper, St Ives BID Manager, said;
“We are pleased to be working in partnership with St Ives Town Council to jointly fund this important initiative. As part of a coordinated, multi-agency approach to enhancing community safety throughout a busy summer season, this pilot scheme brings together St Ives BID, the Town Council, the neighbourhood policing team, and the new street marshal service. The collaboration between police and marshals will strengthen intelligence sharing and enable a more effective response to local issues. Street marshals provide a vital, visible presence in the town, offering reassurance to residents, visitors, and businesses while actively helping to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime.”
Councillor Johnnie Wells, Mayor of St Ives, said;
“This is another great example of the Town Council and St Ives BID working together for the good of the town. By taking a proactive approach and appointing summer street marshals, we’re helping to keep St Ives safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone.”
Police Inspector Dee Evans, Penzance and Isles of Scilly Sector said:
‘This new scheme is a really positive step for St Ives. The introduction of Summer Street Marshals will strengthen our partnership approach to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly during the busiest months of the year. By working closely with the police and local services, the marshals will provide a visible, reassuring presence and support early intervention in areas of concern. This proactive model, which has already shown great results in other towns, will help reduce low level crime, improve community confidence, and ensure St Ives remains a safe and welcoming place for residents, businesses, and visitors alike’
Partners welcome public comments and feedback on the pilot to help measure its success and this will help inform whether they repeat or extend the initiative.
Featured Image: Left to Right – James Wright Infinitus Security Ltd, Councillor Tony Harris, Sarah Hooper St Ives BID Manager, St Ives Town Mayor Councillor Johnnie Wells and Kim Phillips Infinitus Security Ltd.
