New policing commander for North and West Devon is back on her local beat

A familiar face has returned to the area to lead local policing teams in North and West Devon.

Superintendent Emma Butler-Jones took on the role as Commander for North and West Devon in May this year following the retirement of previous commander Superintendent Toby Davis.

Supt Butler-Jones joined Devon & Cornwall Police in 2006 and became a sergeant covering Bideford in 2009. She has worked her way up through the ranks; securing a position as Prevention Superintendent in September 2023 before returning to her ‘local patch’ earlier this year.

She has said her priorities for the area are focused on responding to the needs of local communities.

She said: “Having spent most of my policing career working in North and West Devon, I have a deep understanding of the patch and the challenges we face.

“I live in Bideford with my husband, who is a local roads policing sergeant; our four-year-old son and our dog. We feel very fortunate to live in such a beautiful area of the county and I’m pleased to be back working here too.

“Most officers and staff members working in North and West Devon also live on the patch, which means we are all truly passionate about serving and protecting our communities.”

In the last few months since taking up her new role, Supt Butler-Jones has met with officers and staff working in the area and spoken with local partners, stakeholders and members of the community to better understand local issues.

She is passionate about policing and is committed to supporting officers to be community-led; to focus on investigative standards by delivering the best outcomes for victims through the criminal justice system and most importantly, working to prevent crime; to stop future victims and to prevent re-offending. 

Supt Butler-Jones continued: “I believe partnership working is crucial in achieving successful outcomes and I know the previous commander – Toby Davies – worked tirelessly to build strong relationships in the community. This is something I am determined to continue.

“As part of my role, I will ensure that we are listening to, understanding and engaging with our communities. I want us to prioritise two-way communication with our communities, ensuring we respond to issues raised locally.

“Remember, your local policing teams are here to help. So, when you see them out on patrol, please stop and have a chat with them; tell them what’s going well and what we could do better. The more we know, the better we can deal with problems in your area.”

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

People living in, working in or visiting North or West Devon are encouraged to report concerns to police by speaking to officers, filling in a form on the force website at https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk or by calling 101.