Summer crackdown on anti-social behaviour

More patrols in East and Mid Devon

Police are cracking down on anti-social behaviour and other offences in East and Mid Devon.

It's part of what they call Operation Loki, which a number of councils across the county have lauded as a positive step to make their areas safer or more attractive to residents and visitors.

The latest campaign started last week in Seaton, Sidmouth, Honiton and Axminster. It will continue in Tiverton, Cullompton, Crediton and Exmouth later this month.

People will see officers on foot patrols, as well as in marked police vehicles during the period of intensification. They will focus on locations where ASB is a problem or issues have been reported to them.

Inspector Phil Gray, inspector for rural East Devon, said: “Over the course of the last few days we were joined by officers from the Devon & Cornwall Police Professional Development Unit, members of the Special Constabulary, colleagues from Roads Policing and the Prevent and Detect Team. We also worked with Youth Intervention Officers, homeless outreach staff and some members of the council who form part of the Community Safety Partnership.

“We work with partners to make sure that we reach those people in vulnerable groups who may need extra support. We like to engage with as many people as possible of all ages and get feedback on how we can help with any local concerns or priorities. We want to keep our communities safe, disrupt incidents of Anti Social Behaviour and make arrests where appropriate. If you see the officers out and about please come and say hello and let us know how we can help you.”

In Seaton, several vehicles were checked with the help of automatic number plate recognition systems and three people were also stopped and dealt with for drugs possession. 

On Friday, police were joined by representatives from Sidmouth Town Council, Gateway Homelessness Action Group, East Devon District Council Community Safety Partnership and other departments including roads policing.

Two vehicles were seized for having no tax, seven motorists were reported for vehicle and document defects and there were several stops for suspected driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs resulting in two arrests. Foot patrols took place in areas of anti-social behaviour and at least 30 motorists were detected for speeding through Sidford.

In Honiton, a specialist undercover team arrested someone for driving whilst being unfit through drugs, having no insurance and being in possession of a class B drug. Enquiries found they were also a disqualified driver.

The local neighbourhood police team stopped a motorist for having no insurance and no driving licence and another vehicle was seized as that motorist also had no driving licence. Two people were searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act and a vulnerable person was located and escorted home with the appropriate referrals to support agencies being made.

Police in Axminster searched a motorist and their vehicle which led to cocaine, cannabis, money and phones being seized. An arrest was made for drug driving, possession with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. The car was seized. A separate vehicle was seized after it was discovered the driver had an expired driving licence.