The Commissioner's column with Alison Hernandez.

This Friday (August 12) I will be among those attending a service to mark a year on since the tragedy in Plymouth in which five innocent people were murdered, two were injured and countless more left traumatised.

It is one of several events being held around the city to allow people to show their respects to those affected by these crimes.

A year ago the actions of one man shocked a nation and thrust a close-knit community into a media spotlight at a time when many residents of the area were ill prepared for such attention.

A week later television crews and national journalists had gone home but the work to provide support to those affected had only just begun.

During the past 12 months, under the ‘Plymouth Together’ banner, there has been a huge effort by local charities, community groups and organisations including Plymouth Community Homes, Devon and Cornwall Police, Plymouth City Councillors and Victim Support to provide reassurance and support to residents of Keyham and Ford and the wider city.

The Home Office has provided considerable additional funding to provide a reassuring additional policing presence in the Keyham neighbourhood. And the Ministry of Justice provided funding for a range of victim services to cater for a huge variety of different individual needs.

It is estimated that 300 people witnessed or were indirectly affected by the shootings. Research from traumatic events in other parts of the country has shown that the impact on a community can be long lasting, so the resources must be able to meet their needs, and be available for years, not just weeks and months.

The national charity Victim Support has been commissioned by my office to provide a professional local team of advisors who can offer emotional and practical help and advice on the ground and online in Plymouth. But there are a myriad of other organisations involved, who can provide everything from a cup of tea and a chat to specialist support for children and support for those experiencing periods of mental ill health.

A Safer Keyham initiative has made physical improvements to public spaces, after consultation with local residents. This has included projects to install new play equipment in a local park and the tidying up of trees and bushes.

This funding has also paid for the installation of 70 extra streetlights, improvements to closed circuit television, the supply of security equipment such as personal alarms to local people and security improvements to people’s homes. All of this is designed to reassure residents.

This summer young Keyham residents are being offered sporting activities such as Parkour and football sessions. Fit and Fed holiday clubs are being run in venues in Keyham and Ford until September.

The result of all this work is that what was already considered a low crime neighbourhood has become even safer. Thanks to the good work of the Keyham Policing Team, partners and the community, figures in March showed that recorded crime was down 12%, burglaries had fallen by 41%, antisocial behaviour was down by 27% and stalking and harassment had fallen 19% when compared to the previous year.

As you might expect, the public’s response to the shooting was incredible, with a fund that will go directly towards victims’ families and the two survivors of the attack raising more than £100,000.

Of course, none of this activity will undo the terrible actions of the gunman. All we can do is reassure those affected by this incident that their community, policing and those of us involved in helping victims and witnesses remain by their side and will do whatever we can to help.

Full details of these services and community initiatives mentioned here, please visit the www.plymouthtogether.co.uk website or call 01752 668000.