Police boss praises team effort in tackling crime

A police boss has praised the North Devon community for helping to reduce crime.

Superintendent Toby Davies, local commander for the North and West Devon policing area, claimed his patch is the best in the region for catching criminals.

“I’m really proud of our outcome rates. It’s not just about recording crime but catching the people responsible, and we have the highest outcome rate in the force.”

He told a North Devon Council meeting that North and West Devon is also the safest area in Devon and Cornwall, with the least crime per head of population.

But Mr Davies, who retires in April after 30 years’ service to be succeeded by Superintendent Emma Butler-Jones, said staffing is a challenge because of the wide area stretching from Ilfracombe to Tavistock. It is one of the largest policing areas in England.

Superintendent Davies said people in North Devon support policing, and tackling crime is a team effort.

In Barnstaple, the district council and police work closely with shopkeepers. It has a large, locally monitored CCTV network and street marshals who have been “a revelation.”

Anti-social behaviour has dropped by a third in the town since the introduction of the street marshal scheme, and North Devon Council funded it when government cash ran out.

He added: “There has been some really good work across the board, not just in Barnstaple but Ilfracombe too, targeting repeat offenders and implementing community protection orders.

“There is something quite special about North Devon. Most of us, if not all of us, live, work, and socialise here, and do everything on patch. We actually care about the communities we live in, and so we can get more bang for our buck.”

“Thanks to everyone because it makes a difference.”

The superintendent was presented with a gift from the council and thanked for his work in getting things done, mobilising his team quickly to incidents, and keeping the council informed.

Cllr Ricky Knight (Green, Heanton Punchardon) said the officer’s presentations to Barnstaple Town Council had been a highlight over 16 years.

Mr Davies received an excellence in policing award from the Police Superintendents’ Association after being nominated for “a genuine passion for policing that is displayed through a steadfast belief in doing what is right for communities, with compassion and fairness.”

It described his “charismatic and enthusiastic style, which infects teams and creates a positive attitude, both inside and out of work.”