BUCKFASTLEIGH NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING REPORT OCTOBER 2013

BUCKFASTLEIGH NEIGHBOURHOOD REPORT OCTOBER 2013

During the month of October there have been 44 reported incidents to us from Buckfastleigh.

13 of these incidents were related to the duel carriageway.

There have been 7 crime reports from the town including:

4 Criminal Damages
2 Thefts of Pedal Cycle
1 Theft from Shop.

There has been no reported crime in the DEAN PRIOR area, nor in the SCORRITON AREA. There was only one reported crime in the HOLNE AREA.

Local police, with the assistance of policing students from Plymouth University, took to the streets to find out what issues were having a negative effect on people’s lives locally.  71 persons were canvassed door to door and on the street.  70% reported that they feel very safe and the rest that they feel fairly safe with only one person saying that they felt unsafe. 46% of persons asked reported that there were no issues which affect their quality of life locally. Of the remainder the main issues identified as being of local concern are anti-social behaviour from young people late at night, parking and traffic related problems. When asked what the police could do to make people feel safer, suggestions made were more police visibility specifically at weekends and in the evening. Other suggestions were improvements to street lighting and more to be provided for young people to do.

As part of a force-wide Speed awareness campaign, and in response to local concerns, speed monitoring was conducted at a location on Buckfast Road (by the Abbey roundabout). This was done at a time coinciding with the early morning school run to ascertain if there was a danger presented by vehicles to school children. Of those vehicles monitored the majority were driving within the speed limit. It appears that there is not a speeding issue in this location.

In response to concerns raised about the anti-social use of motorcycles in the town the police have launched an initiative to clampdown on this behaviour. Numerous individuals have been identified as responsible; these individuals have been subject of warnings under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act, meaning that should they be witnessed by police driving in an antisocial manner in future the police may have a power to seize their motorcycles from them.  Further to this police have deployed a plain car and enlisted the assistance of the traffic motorcycle unit, to detect traffic offences and gather evidence about those responsible. So far two individuals have been reported to court for offences of not having valid MOT, not correctly displaying L Plates, having a defective exhaust and riding without a helmet. Police will continue to monitor this and actively prosecute those found in breach of the law, we will also be liaising with Teignbridge council in regards escalating those responsible on the anti-social behaviour process. We are currently arranging with the council to get the large gate into Victoria Park locked so as to prevent vehicular access

Police surgeries are held monthly at Buckfastleigh Town Hall, the next one being Wednesday 13th November at 7.30pm

We can be contacted via the central switchboard no. 101 or via e-mail – Teignbridge@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk

PC 3023 WILLIAM YOUNG. And PCSO Tamzin Campbell Moseley