Buskers’ Code of Practice: This provides guidance to businesses on how to deal with buskers who play loud music outside their premises and may discourage shoppers from entering their premises. The advice includes explaining the issue in a polite and calm manner during a suitable interval during their music. Buskers may well turn down their volume or move away, and if not, PARC can be called to provide assistance.

Safe Zone children channel: A scheme in which up to 70% of stores in the City centre display a sticker in their front window to inform children who are lost or at risk in some way, that they can enter the premises and be safe whilst help is arranged via PARC who would inform police in urgent cases. Two missing toddlers have been reunited with parents using this system.

All of this work is underpinned by a close and proactive working relationship with City centre officers from Devon and Cornwall Police. There are occasional meetings with the local Inspector, monthly meetings with the local Sergeant, and combined weekly City centre walks with local neighbourhood officers and PARC Rangers – so they all can update each other and share information. Ian was informed recently that police have now set up a dedicated team of officers to investigate reports of shoplifting.

PARC promotes the Devon and Cornwall Police ‘Alert’ messaging system, which is available to businesses by email on computer or a ‘push message’ via mobile phone, and provides information about crime, anti-social behaviour, witness appeals, missing person appeals, community events and local good news. PARC has used it for messages about warnings around forged notes.