Harbour Hotspots with Police Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez

We welcomed Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez for a tour around our main site, Cosgarne Hall in St Austell, to discuss the work that we are currently undertaking on a local initiative, ‘Hotspots’ that we have been commissioned to run in the areas of Newquay and St Austell.

Ms Hernandez, joined by Torbay council representatives as well as agency and police officials had the opportunity to see first-hand, how the project is tackling antisocial behaviour (ASB) as well as meeting frontline staff and residents.

Joining the commissioner was Group Operations Director Malcolm Putko and Kate Moss, Head of Special Services, who discussed the journey of Harbour Housing’s High Tolerance and Harm Reduction Model

Nick: Previously a resident at Cosgarne Hall and currently works as a  Support Worker on Harbours High-Intensity Projects Team, which covers Accommodation for Ex-Offenders (AFEO), attended a presentation given by Ms Hernandez in 2019 at Torquay, organised by Sophie Baker, titled the Devon and Cornwall Drugs Harm Reduction Seminar.

Ms Hernandez spoke at length with Nick at the time about his experience and encouraged other providers to involve experts with more experience in delivering services. Nick has now worked for Harbour for three years, so this was a great opportunity to meet with Alison and discuss what has changed and the improvements needed since that time.

This project is producing some extremely successful results, in regard to residents volunteering their time as outreach workers alongside our trained Hotspots team of staff.  By working together both on foot and from our welfare vehicle, the team have been accessing the streets and have been able to reach out to people experiencing homelessness or distress in these areas.

This is giving us valuable insight into what support can be offered and being able to provide unique help depending on individual’s needs, as well as providing essential items, such as food parcels, toiletries, warm clothes, and winter warm packs, all instantly available from our welfare truck.

The team have been able to really connect by spending time and listening to individuals stories over a warm drink and understanding their complex needs to signpost them to the appropriate services. Every person that we come into contact with are triaged for our referral waiting list and are also referred to Street link, through Cornwall Councils, Rough Sleeper Team if necessary.