Source: City of Plymouth
Plymouth City Council’s Taxi Licensing Team is set to play a greater role in keeping the public safe, thanks to new powers granted through the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) accredited by Devon and Cornwall Police.
The accreditation recognises the team’s ability to support frontline safety efforts and gives officers additional tools to help tackle anti-social behaviour, manage traffic incidents, and work more closely with police.
CSAS gives trained Council officers limited police powers, enabling them to respond more effectively to issues that affect residents and visitors across the city.
Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety for Plymouth City Council, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for our Taxi Licensing Team and a real boost for community safety in Plymouth. By equipping our officers with additional powers and training, we’re making sure they can respond quickly and effectively to issues that matter to residents. It’s about being proactive, visible, and working hand-in-hand with the police to keep people safe.”
The team has undergone an assessed training with police colleagues, including traffic management and public engagement. Once accredited, officers will be able to:
- Request name and address in cases of anti-social behaviour
- Power to stop and direct traffic to protect public safety
- Require names and addresses for individuals not complying with the above requests
- Share and access relevant intelligence with Devon and Cornwall Police
These new powers will help the team respond more effectively to incidents, increase partnership working between the council and provide a more visible uniformed presence in the community. Officers will continue to wear their standard uniforms, which will now display the CSAS logo as well as carrying police-approved ID badges and powers cards to reflect their new responsibilities.
The scheme has already proven successful in other parts of the country, and across Devon and Cornwall, and Plymouth’s adoption marks a significant step forward in local efforts to build safer, more resilient communities.
Find out more about CSAS and other schemes in Plymouth and the surrounding area by visiting www.dc.police.uk/csas