North and West Devon policing commander retires after 30 years of service

Superintendent Toby Davies is retiring from Devon & Cornwall Police after 30 years of service, having spent the last nine years as the policing commander for North and West Devon.

Originally from North Wales, Toby moved to Exeter to study at university and has lived in Devon ever since. 

He is married to a secondary school teacher, and his two grown-up children have both graduated from university and are now working in North Devon.

Reflecting on his career, Toby said: “I was studying at Exeter University when I saw a career stand about policing. I had no family connections in the police and had never even thought of policing as a career. On a whim, I picked up the form, filled it out and sent it in. A few days later, I was in a three-day assessment centre and, somehow, I got through! It was the best decision I ever made.”

He joined Devon & Cornwall Police in 1994 and spent his early years working in Exeter on Response and Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

In 1999, he was promoted to Sergeant in Ilfracombe.

Over the years, he has supported the policing of royal visits and worked on high-profile operations such as the 2021 G7 Summit.

His career has seen him take on a variety of roles within the region, including neighbourhood and local policing positions. 

In 2012, he was appointed Criminal Justice and Custody Commander, where he helped establish the Victim Care Unit.

Throughout his career, Toby has worked in areas such as public order, firearms, and major incident command, receiving commendations for his proactive approach. 

One was for his number of arrests during his probation period, and another for assisting a man in a mental health crisis.

Toby’s commitment to policing was recognised last autumn when he received a national Excellence in Policing award from the Police Superintendents Association. 

Colleagues who nominated him highlighted his passion for policing, describing him as having a genuine dedication to doing what is right for communities with compassion and fairness.

He was also invited to a retirement meeting with Devon & Cornwall Police Chief Constable James Vaughan, who presented him with a certificate marking his 30-year career.

Outside of work, Toby enjoys raising money for charity. 

Last summer, he participated in a 15-peaks challenge in Wales alongside colleagues, raising around £6,000 for North Devon Hospice and the National Foundation of Retired Service Animals.

Toby said: “I will leave with fond memories of policing. I love the adrenaline, the uncertainty, the variety, and back in the day I loved chasing the cars and the criminals. I do strangely get a buzz in dealing with risk, for example when dealing with public order and firearms command incidents."

He added: “Most of all, I love the people I have come into contact with and, in my experience, you meet some of the nicest and most compassionate people through policing - who are just doing their very best to help others. Policing is not easy but despite some of the challenges, in North and West Devon it does feel different."

Toby concluded: “What makes North & West Devon special? There is a real ‘one team’ ethic and desire from everyone to do the best they can for our local area, that we are all part of. That’s not just from the police but from all our partner agencies and the community itself. We may be small, but as an area, we punch way above our weight. It is the people and support we get from our communities that ensures we always outperform as an area and will continue to do so.”

Reflecting on his career as a whole, Toby said: “We do have our challenges like any other area, but we have one of the lowest crime rates in the country and, of that crime, one of the best outcome detection rates in the South West region. I leave with many happy memories – policing is a tough job and I wish my colleagues the very best for the future.”

Superintendent Emma Butler-Jones will take on the North & West Devon Commander role following Toby’s retirement.