More coppers and CCTV for Paignton

They're to tackle anti-social behaviour

New CCTV cameras are coming to trouble-hit Paignton as police and Torbay Council step up their campaign against crime and anti-social behaviour.

Better lighting in the central Victoria Park is on the way, along with a mobile police station in the town, which will also have new ‘marshals’ to work around pubs and clubs at night.

A new sergeant and five new constables are to be deployed in South Devon.

The moves to cope with Paignton’s long-standing problems were revealed during a meeting of Torbay Council’s overview and scrutiny committee which  discussed the police’s Operation Loki, which ran for four weeks in Torquay before being extended to Paignton.

The ‘visible and proactive’ campaign targeted anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls.

A total of 156 arrests were made during the operation, but while anti-social behaviour went down in the target areas, it often just moved to others. Six weapons were seized, along with drugs worth £6,000 – mainly cannabis and cocaine.

Superintendent Hayley Costar said: “We know that when we implement this robust style of policing we have to make sure we still have robust resources in other areas.”