New Neighbourhood Support Team adds extra strength to fighting crime

Devon & Cornwall Police has introduced a new policing team which will work closely with communities to tackle priority problems affecting local people and businesses.

The team, led by Sergeant Andrew Walton, will deal with issues including antisocial behaviour (ASB), drugs, shoplifting and spikes in crime.

The Neighbourhood Support Team (NST) are based in Exeter and deployed across the city, as well as wider North, East and West Devon, according to need and impact. They will work alongside other existing neighbourhood police teams, partners and communities to target suspects, reduce offending and prevent crimes from happening in the future.

Chief Inspector Chris Conway said: “This new team is a visible and tangible asset for our communities. They will be called upon to help short and longer-term problems which are affecting whole communities, as opposed to our patrol officers who more typically respond to emergency 999 calls and non-emergency 101 reports. The new team will work closely with existing neighbourhood teams to reclaim contested spaces, develop key networks and marginalise perpetrators’ behaviour. This can range from anything to an increase of vehicle thefts, drug dealing in known locations or ASB in busy areas.”

The role of the NST is to provide an increased presence in neighbourhoods as a reassurance to local communities and to deter crime. This is achieved by conducting high visibility foot patrols, house-to-house enquiries to encourage residents to report issues, and targeted enforcement activity - such as stop searches - to disrupt criminal activity such as drug dealing.

Chief Insp Conway added: “Problem-solving and preventative police work like this already takes place across Devon and Cornwall. But the extra NST officers boost our teams and mean we can have more of an impact where it is needed to make a positive difference. We want the public to feel safe and know we are here to support them.   

“The new team are already making an impact and recently carried out ASB and shoplifting operations in Exeter city centre. They worked alongside retailers and InExeter (the city’s Business Improvement District) to deal with persistent offenders who often steal items to sell on or regularly act anti-socially in Exeter city centre. Some of these perpetrators are linked to other criminality and, ultimately, the impact of the new police team will make our area safer. The police working alone cannot solve all of the problems which communities face and it is vital that we work with partners to give a better response and share information.”       

Sergeant Andrew Walton, who heads up the new team of Police Constables, continued: “I have a great team of officers here and we are determined to make a difference and achieve results. We know long-standing and repeat crimes like shoplifting have a far-reaching impact on the everyday lives of people and businesses, so it is vital we continue to disrupt and deter offending from taking place - that’s what our team is here for.

“I would urge local communities to pass on information that may assist us and make sure they report offences that occur – we can only help if we know the details and can track patterns of crime and build the full picture. I hope that by showing the proactive action taken by the NST, in conjunction with our other uniformed police teams, it will show the public we are listening to them and taking steps to target criminals and make our communities safer.

“Please continue visiting our website to report a crime or pick up the phone to call 101. Your reports are an essential tool in helping us make communities safer. If you see us out and about, please come up and say hello.”

In addition to Sgt Walton’s team who cover Exeter, North, East and West Devon, there are three other NSTs that are operational across Devon and Cornwall, covering key areas of the Force.

If you have any information or concerns about crime in your area, please report it to Devon & Cornwall Police online via the website or by calling 101. You can also report information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers UK on 0800 555111. Your information could help save a life. If a crime is taking place or life is in danger please call 999. Report | Devon & Cornwall Police (devon-cornwall.police.uk)

According to the latest Office for National Statistics data Devon & Cornwall Police is one of the safest police force areas in England & Wales. It has the second lowest rate of overall crime out of 43 police forces.