Police lace-up for extra patrols in Teignmouth

Officers from Devon & Cornwall Police in Teignmouth are carrying out extra patrols during peak times over the summer to keep the public safe and deter criminals from visiting the area.

Police officers will be conducting high visibility foot patrols across the sea front and town centre, with further support from additional officers during the busy evenings.

Inspector Sean Roper, who oversees the neighbourhood police officers in Teignmouth, said: “We know that over the summer period we see an increase in the number of people visiting the area including holiday-makers, families and young people under the age of 18.

“It’s fantastic to see that so many people choose to come to Teignmouth to enjoy the lovely outdoor spaces we’re lucky enough to have. Most visitors are well behaved, but it’s still not unusual for us to see an increase in crime reports from the public. This also includes reports of youth-related antisocial behaviour (ASB) which often relate to young people under the age of 18 being disruptive and using alcohol and/or drugs.

“To make sure that all visitors and residents feel safe, we will be stepping up our patrols to ensure we have a regular and visible presence within our communities. They will be taking place in high-footfall areas across key times of the day”.

Increased patrols are in action across Teignbridge and surrounding areas. Devon & Cornwall Police will tackle crime and any form of antisocial behaviour (ASB), including vandalism and all forms of violence. To safeguard young people and challenge underage alcohol consumption, officers are taking a robust approach on patrols to locate and seize alcohol and illegal substances from young people.

“Continuing to increase our presence on the streets will act as both a reassurance to the community, showing that we are here to proactively disrupt crime and keep people safe, while also acting as a deterrent to people who look to commit crime," Insp Roper added.

“We remain committed to encouraging positive and healthy behaviour, while deterring crime and ASB. By working together with our communities, we can make sure our public spaces remain safe and enjoyable for everyone. Please continue to report criminal activity – your reports help us to make sure we’re conducting patrols in the right places and at the right times. Thank you.”

To report a crime, log the report on our website or call 101. If it is an emergency or a crime is taking place, call 999.

To keep up to date with what police officers in your local area are doing to keep communities safe, sign up to Devon & Cornwall Alert.You can also visit the ‘what’s happening in your area’ section of the Devon & Cornwall Police website to read more about your local policing team.

Useful resources are available to help parents and guardians have conversations with young people about difficult topics, such as drugs and alcohol. The programme contains a mixture of resources that are completely free to support parents and guardians with young people aged 9-18. Resources are available here: Let's Talk Teenagers - Safer Devon.