Community and Environment

The Devon Strategic Assessment describes crime and community safety issues for Devon.  Overall levels of recorded crime have been stable, although there is variation between different crimes.  Increases in the levels of reporting for domestic abuse, violence without injury, sexual offences, shoplifting, public order offences, possession of weapons, hate crime and road traffic casualties, and reductions in robbery, burglary and vehicle crime have been seen over recent years.  Natural Devon, the Devon Local Nature Partnership, was established in 2012 to protect and improve Devon’s natural environment, to grow Devon’s green economy and to reconnect Devon’s people with nature.  A ‘State of the Environment’ report was published in 2014 describing the current condition of the environment.  Poor air quality can have a negative impact on health, and whilst mortality attributable to air pollution is below the South West and England average, a number of Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) exist where air quality is actively monitored. Housing conditions can have an adverse impact on health.  The affordability of housing in Devon is also an issue on account of relatively high house prices and relatively low wages.  Levels of homelessness in the county are relatively high, and are associated with a range of physical and mental health problems.  As a large, predominantly rural county, there are additional challenges in Devon in terms of access to health and care services.  Social interaction and social support play an important part in our health and wellbeing.  Issues such as isolation, loneliness and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression can influence physical health and reduced life expectancy is linked to chronic mental health problems such as schizophrenia.