Devon & Cornwall Police in South Devon area are preparing for the busy festive season, stepping up their activity to deter seasonal crime and target offenders in an effort to keep communities safe.
Devon & Cornwall Police in South Devon area are preparing for the busy festive season, stepping up their activity to deter seasonal crime and target offenders in an effort to keep communities safe.
Chief Superintendent Roy Linden, who heads up police teams across Torbay, Teignbridge and South Hams, said: “This time of the year attracts lots of visitors, shoppers and families to our area, which is fantastic to see. Whilst the towns in South Devon remain a safe place to visit, work and live, we know that opportunist criminals use this busy period to their advantage. To ensure our communities feel safe, it’s important that our officers are visible, approachable and proactive during this season.
“Police officers will be pursuing shoplifters, offences relating to alcohol and drug use including drink driving, domestic violence and antisocial behaviour. A large focus will be on deterring these crimes from happening in the first place as well as arresting offenders who look to cause harm to our community.
“You will see our officers patrolling on foot and in vehicles across peak times and locations. Patrol routes and timings are evidence based; we go where we know crimes have happened in the past and where offences are likely to happen. Whether in plain clothes or uniform, our officers will be on the streets actively identifying those looking to offend. There will also be a clear focus on crimes that we know tend to occur during December, such as shoplifting, alcohol related violence and violence against women. If you ever feel unsafe in a specific area, you see something that doesn’t look quite right, or you want to get to know your local police team – I’d encourage you to speak with an officer. They’re there to help.”
Ch.Supt Linden commented on how the festive season can be a difficult period of time for people who experience domestic abuse. “As someone who grew up witnessing domestic abuse, I’d like to send a message to anyone who is affected by it; our police officers are here for you, no matter the day or time, we are here to protect and keep you safe from harm, particularly over Christmas. As a message to perpetrators of domestic abuse, our officers continue to work relentlessly to pursue you; you will be arrested, and where the evidence supports a prosecution, you will be taken to court. In addition to this, we will seek to use a variety of civil order to prevent you from causing further harm in the future.”
“The festive season tends to attract an increase in the number of people visiting bars, pubs and events throughout December. As a reminder to those who are out in the evenings, there are a number of initiatives out there to keep you safe if you need it. The night bus will be running every Saturday until the New Year, which will provide affordable travel across Torbay from 12:30am – 4:30am. If you need any help while you’re out, make sure you speak to a trusted member of venue staff, security staff or street marshal. If it is an emergency, always call 999.
“Several pubs and licenced venues in South Devon also operate the Ask For Angela scheme, promoted by Devon & Cornwall Police in association with Pubwatch and Best Bar None. The 'Ask for Angela' scheme allows anyone who may be feeling threatened or unsafe while on a date to approach the bar to seek help by asking for 'Angela'. Staff will keep an eye on the situation and arrange for you to leave discreetly.
“Please keep in mind that drink spiking can happen to anyone, so be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye out for each other. If something doesn’t feel right, let a trusted friend or member of staff know immediately if you can. We would encourage anyone who thinks they have been a victim to contact us. We are here to help you; we will listen without judgement and we will take you seriously."
The following crime prevention guidance is an effective way to deter offenders from targeting you, your property or your business. Ch.Supt Linden shares how important it is to take simple steps to deter criminals: “We regularly share crime prevention advice with our communities - I know some of these tips may feel like ‘common sense’, but it’s a really effective method to keep opportunist criminals from causing you harm. Please take the time to familiarise yourself or refresh your knowledge – criminals can be clever, so let’s work together to stay one step ahead.”
“As we head into December, please look after each other - stay smart and follow crime prevention tips, don’t get into situations where behaviour can escalate into violence and continue to report crime to us. Stay safe and be merry.”
Useful information:
- To report a crime online, visit: Report a crime | Devon & Cornwall Police
- To report antisocial behaviour, visit: Report antisocial behaviour | Devon & Cornwall Police
- To report and for support for domestic abuse, visit: How to report domestic abuse | Devon & Cornwall Police
- For further information about spiking, visit: What is spiking? | Devon & Cornwall Police
- For information about the night bus, visit: News Article - Devon & Cornwall Police
- For crime prevention advice, visit: Crime prevention advice | Devon & Cornwall Police
- For business crime prevention advice, visit: Business crime prevention | Devon & Cornwall Police
If you have been affected by crime, please visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.
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